At the entrance to the Ninth Heaven, amidst the ethereal white mist, it resembled a fairyland.
The guarding disciple raised his sword impatiently and said, "We've already said that Junior Uncle hasn't returned. If you still refuse to leave, don't blame us for being impolite."
"Then I request to see your sect leader." Lin Zhi had searched for Jiang Chuting without success, and placed his last hope in the Nine Heavens. After all, this was Jiang Chuting's home, and he would return no matter what.
He didn't believe the gatekeeper's words, and dared not force his way in, so he changed his approach, cupping his hands and pleading politely: "I really have something very important to say, please help me pass on this message."
The leading disciple said rudely, "Do you think you can just see our sect leader whenever you want? Go, go, go! Get out of here."
Lin Zhi had been anxious and exhausted for many days, and being rejected again made him both anxious and sad. The tightness and pain in his chest suddenly intensified, and he even vomited blood.
Several disciples were startled by him, and seeing his swaying body and pale expression, they felt a pang of pity. Another disciple advised him, "I'm not lying to you. Our junior uncle is often away traveling, and it's common for him to not return for months at a time. Moreover, our sect leader doesn't receive guests these days. Even if you wait here to die, no one will see you."
Lin Zhi stubbornly waited at the mountain gate for three days. He didn't see Jiang Chuting, but he did see Chonghua.
When Lin Zhi saw his stern, imposing face, she stared in astonishment, her eyes widening: "It's...it's you?"
It was that middle-aged man who had inexplicably stabbed him at the entrance of the Lovesick Abode.
He initially thought someone was deliberately causing trouble, never imagining that he was from the Ninth Heaven.
The disciples guarding the gate bowed respectfully: "Sect Leader!"
Chonghua waved his hand, signaling them to leave first. Lin Zhize was stunned. It turned out that he was Chonghua, the leader of the Nine Heavens, and Jiang Chuting's senior brother.
Chonghua didn't say a word to him, his eyes sharp, and he drew his sword to strike. Lin Zhi was no match for him to begin with, not to mention that he hadn't eaten much in the past few days and was in poor physical condition. He was knocked to the ground in no time.
Lin Zhi was slashed three times and coughed up blood twice. After a while, he managed to get up on his own. His injuries were not serious.
Chonghua clearly showed mercy; otherwise, he would have been dead long ago.
Sheathing his sword, Chonghua stared at him coldly and said, "I wasn't going to cause you any trouble, but you've come to me of your own accord."
Jiang Chuting did not return to the Nine Heavens, but a letter had been sent back earlier, briefly mentioning that he and Lin Zhi had separated. Although it didn't go into details, Chonghua knew that he had insisted on being with Lin Zhi despite opposition, and he wouldn't give up easily unless Lin Zhi did something that chilled his heart.
His junior brother's temperament could be as soft as water or as hard as ice. Lin Zhi could turn this water into ice, so he must have used considerable skill.
In that letter, Jiang Chuting instructed that their relationship was over and he did not wish to have any further involvement, asking his fellow disciples not to interfere. Although Chonghua was angry, he still obeyed and did not go to find Lin Zhi. Unexpectedly, the boy came looking for him himself.
Chonghua ignored him for three days, but he still wouldn't leave. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he took up his sword and went to confront him personally.
Lin Zhi dared not complain at all about being injured by him. He raised his hand to wipe the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth, coughed twice, and bowed respectfully: "Sect Leader, may I be informed of Chu Ting's whereabouts? I really want to see him."
Chonghua questioned, "Just because you want to see him, does that mean he has to let you? Who are you to him?"
Lin Zhi subconsciously tried to speak, "I am him, his..." but his voice choked with emotion and he couldn't finish.
I'm too ashamed to continue.
Chonghua still wanted to get to the bottom of things, and coldly asked, "What exactly did you do to him?"
Lin Zhi's face turned even paler in an instant, and she confessed the truth: "I don't believe him, I misunderstood him, and..." and she even did that thing to him in the dark room.
"I even lied to him to make him angry, saying I was going to marry someone else." Her voice grew hoarse as she spoke.
These few words sound simple, but one can easily imagine the bitterness Jiang Chuting has endured, and it's certainly not all that. Chonghua laughed angrily, "Fine, very well! You and your father, one is an outrageous and irresponsible bully, the other self-righteous and shameless. Truly father and son, cut from the same cloth. What makes you think my Nine Heavens will continue to tolerate you, and dare to come to his door demanding to see him?!"
Lin Zhi clutched his wound and took a step closer, explaining, "I didn't know the truth about what happened back then. It was my fault. I misunderstood him a lot. Please give me a chance! Let me see him. I swear, I will do my best to make it up to him and treat him well! I will never have any ulterior motives!"
No matter how much he assured him, Chonghua remained unmoved and scoffed, "The fact that you can say such things shows that you don't understand him at all."
Lin Zhi was stunned: "...What?"
Chonghua said, "He can forgive everything, but he won't tolerate betrayal. Even if your father had many reasons for leaving him to marry your mother, Chuting only went to see him once before he died. How much do you think your repentance is worth? Someone like you who brought this upon himself, even if you were lying dead on the spot right now, he probably wouldn't even give you a second glance."
Lin Zhi's head was buzzing and throbbing, as if it were about to explode. She stammered, "I, I, didn't..."
He didn't betray his feelings, and he never fell in love with anyone else. He was just burdened by inner demons and wanted to vent and release them. He just wanted to find peace of mind.
But... those words were indeed his own doing, and the things he did that were cold and hurt him were also his own doing. No amount of explanation would make a difference.
Lin Zhi was both scared and panicked, completely at a loss. What if that person really ignored him, and even if he died, he wouldn't forgive him? Just as he was about to plead a few more times, Chonghua interrupted him sharply: "Chu Ting gave you a chance, and I gave you a chance out of respect for him. This is the only time, there's no room for negotiation! Don't even think about seeing him again!" With that, he turned away and flung his sleeves.
Lin Zhi wanted to follow, but the guards rushed up from all sides, drew their swords, and surrounded him.
Lin Zhi could only stand frozen in place like a stone.
Chonghua did not stop walking, and the command came: "If he dares to step into the mountain gate, kill him without mercy."
Lin Zhi did not leave. He lingered outside the mountain gate for more than ten days. After sending people to inquire several times and confirming that Jiang Chuting was not on the mountain, he finally decided to go down the mountain in a daze.
Lin Zhi walked down the steps for an unknown amount of time before suddenly stopping. His gaze swept around blankly, and his lips moved slightly as he murmured, "Chu Ran, Chu Ran..."
The only response he received was the rustling of the cold wind in the mountains, its chill penetrating to his very core.
There was no more of that person's gentle voice and smile, nothing at all. He deserved it all.
Lin Zhi's nose stung, and a burning sensation ran down his cheeks. The bitterness he had suppressed for so long finally burst forth, and he cried out the name he used to hate, but now caused him excruciating pain: "Chu Ting!"
He screamed hoarsely, as if using all his strength: "Chu Ting! Come back, please don't leave me, okay? Chu Ting! I was wrong, come back, come back..."
He pleaded desperately, but he knew that no matter how loudly he cried or how desperately he held on, there would never be another snowy day that brought him such ecstasy.
Lin Zhi, panting heavily, wiped away her tears, gritted her teeth, and continued down the mountain.
No matter what, even if he had to travel the world, he would find Chu Ting. As long as he could stay by his side and beg for his forgiveness, he would do anything and would never give up.
...
Although Jiang Chuting's internal energy had dissipated to only one-tenth of its original level, he did not return to the Nine Heavens; instead, he sent back a few letters.
After visiting the friend Ling Guang had mentioned and resting and recuperating for half a month, he began traveling around again, wearing a mask.
There were many big events recently: the new emperor ascended the throne, a general amnesty was granted, and the young master of the Lin family in Anyang got married. It was said that the wedding was unprecedentedly grand, causing astonishment and spreading throughout the local gossip. Even now, some time later, when Jiang Chuting is resting at a tea stall, he can still hear many people talking about it.
Jiang Chuting put down her teacup and sighed softly. There was no escaping it.
He deliberately ignored the conversation, finished his tea, picked up his sword, and left. He didn't hear anyone asking, "But I heard that Young Master Lin wore a mask when he was getting married. I've never heard that he's ugly before. Is there something he's ashamed of?"
Jiang Chuting randomly found an inn to stay at, but unexpectedly, in the middle of the night, she heard painful cries for help coming from the next room.
Jiang Chuting, who was meditating, opened her eyes and hesitated for a moment before getting up and leaving.
He had been away from the Lin residence for over two months. Lin Xi hadn't sent anyone to hunt him down, but another group of people—the people from Changliu Manor—had tried to kill him. Qiao Xun harbored resentment towards them for taking Xie Zhen away. Fortunately, Jiang Xian happened to be there at the appointed time and helped him out; otherwise, given his situation, who knows what would have happened to him.
His hesitation stemmed from his fear that it might be a trap.
The sword hilt pushed open the door, and Jiang Chuting approached warily. She immediately saw a person on the bed with a large, round belly, pounding the bed in pain, their face deathly pale. "Help! Help!"
It was a man's voice, and upon closer inspection, Jiang Chuting recognized the face.
Young Lord.
Judging from his condition, he was about to give birth. Jiang Chuting didn't know anything about childbirth and didn't dare to do anything rash. She picked him up, covered his head and face with a hat, and hurriedly found a clinic and knocked on the door.
The doctor greeted them with a yawn, but when he learned that the baby was going to be a man, he stared wide-eyed in disbelief, wondering if he was dreaming.
Jiang Chuting took out a silver ingot and said gently, "He has a special constitution that led to his pregnancy. I hope you can help him and keep it a secret. Thank you very much."
The doctor was a good doctor. After regaining his senses, he quickly began to make arrangements and even sent someone to fetch a midwife.
Shao Jun lay on the bed, his hair completely soaked with sweat. Jiang Chuting sat by the bedside and comforted him, saying, "Don't be afraid, the doctor and the midwife are here, you'll be fine."
Shao Jun was conscious. He knew how Jiang Chuting had carried him to the clinic and what he had said to the doctor. He was extremely grateful and tremblingly grabbed Jiang Chuting's wrist, saying, "Thank you so much, my benefactor."
When Jiang Chuting first met Shao Jun, he was dressed as Chu Ran, so he didn't recognize him.
Jiang Chuting grasped his hand in return and said, "Young Master, I am Chu Ran. Do you remember me?"
Shaojun was taken aback when he heard him call his name, but his eyes widened in shock as he heard the rest.
It was Master Chu, the Master Chu who had helped him a lot in the past.
These days he was all alone, wandering and living in fear. When he heard that it was Chu Ran, it was as if he had seen a long-lost relative and found someone to rely on. His eyes welled up with tears, and he couldn't help but sob.
Jiang Chuting patted his hand and gently comforted him, "Don't cry, save your strength for later."
Jiang Chuting stepped outside, then frowned and clutched her lower abdomen. She had hurriedly hugged Shaojun and walked a short distance before feeling a dull ache in her stomach.
Ling Guang's friend said that his loss of internal energy was related to his pregnancy, and how much he would recover was entirely up to fate. Moreover, Lin Xuan's medicine forcibly altered his body structure, which would lead to a decline in his physical condition. He was no longer the same person he used to be, and could only be more mindful of his health.
I leaned against the wall, found a stool, and sat down, waiting for time to pass.
Shaojun screamed intermittently for two days inside, her voice becoming hoarse, before finally giving birth to the child, a girl.
The midwife washed and wrapped the incessantly crying baby and handed him to Jiang Chuting, muttering angrily, "What a disaster, what a disaster, giving birth to a freak." She was about to leave hastily when, seeing this, Jiang Chuting flashed in front of her, his eyes cold and sharp. Holding the baby in one arm, the sword in his other hand was drawn a few inches from its sheath. He said, "Not a word of what happened today can be revealed, otherwise—"
The midwife was terrified and hurriedly bowed and begged for mercy, making repeated promises before Jiang Chuting let him go.
Shaojun was likely also a victim of Lin Xuan's actions. Ling Guang had previously stated that children born after taking the medication were often deformed and wouldn't live long. Shaojun's child didn't escape this fate; not only was the lip cleft, but the child also had an extra finger on the right hand. The midwife saw these things and started making a fuss.
Fortunately, the child is in good health and will definitely survive.
Shaojun held her daughter and cried sadly for a long time. Jiang Chuting didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only stay by her side.
Fortunately, he adjusted his mood quickly, and within a few days he was smiling and playing with the children again.
"Master Chu, you didn't even ask me why I..."
Jiang Chuting shook her head, and Shaojun sighed: "Actually, even if you asked, I wouldn't know. I just found out I was pregnant without really knowing what was going on."
He had been sold to a brothel; he must have been lured there. Jiang Chuting asked him, "Aren't you planning to go back to the Huang residence?"
His aimless existence is not a solution, especially now that he has a child to support.
“I’m not going back, and I’ll never go back. I’ve been gone for so long, Young Master Huang should have forgotten me long ago. Besides, this child… sigh! It’s hard to explain.” Shao Jun held his sleeping daughter and said firmly to Jiang Chuting, “I plan to find my sister, and once I find her, I’ll settle down and live a good life.”
Jiang Chuting nodded: "That's fine too."
Shao Jun hesitated for a moment, then looked at him expectantly and asked, "Hero Chu, have you been busy lately? Or, where are you going?"
"I don't have any plans for now." He had already learned some inside information about the drug trial from Ling Guang's friend. Not only the Lin family, but also Miyue Valley, Feihua Pavilion, and Changliu Manor were all involved. Several forces were intertwined, like a huge net. With his current strength, he couldn't make any move at all, and would only be throwing his life away.
He had to find another way.
Upon hearing this, Shaojun's eyes lit up: "Then can I travel with you? Don't worry, I won't trouble you. It's just that I've been alone for a long time and I feel very lonely. And, I don't know why, but when you're by my side, I feel particularly at peace."
Jiang Chuting smiled gently: "Is that so?"
Looking at his beaming smile, Shaojun blushed slightly and said shyly, "Hero Chu, you are so handsome. If you are so handsome, why did you disguise yourself before? Also, why haven't I seen Young Master Lin with you? Aren't you always inseparable?"
“He… went home.” Jiang Chuting said simply, then added seriously, “Young Master, I’m afraid I can’t let you come with me, because there might be danger.”
It wasn't just Qiao Xun and Lin Xi's side, but also Pei Jing's. This was one of the reasons he didn't return to the Nine Heavens.
Seeing the disappointment on his face, Jiang Chuting chuckled and said, "However, I can stay and help you take care of the child until you recover."
Jiang Chuting and Shaojun spent more than 20 days together. He had recovered enough to go out. Although the child had a defect, he could eat and sleep well and had even gained weight.
Jiang Chuting gave him some silver and helped him and the child onto the carriage. He had learned some news and was preparing to go to Jincheng to find his sister.
Shaojun bid him farewell with reluctance: "Hero Chu, if fate allows, we will meet again. I will definitely repay your kindness."
Jiang Chuting gently squeezed the soft little hand of the child in his arms, nodded and smiled: "Okay, see you again if fate allows."
After seeing him off, Jiang Chuting headed in the opposite direction from Jincheng.
Before he knew it, his lower abdomen had started to bulge slightly; the baby was about four months along, and he could already feel the baby moving. Ling Guang's friend had specifically instructed him to go back to see him no later than six months, and to rest and recuperate at his place in the following months, just in case.
With nearly two months left until the deadline, Jiang Chuting really wanted to return to the Nine Heavens. He hadn't seen his senior brothers for a long time, but he still had some concerns. One was because of Pei Jing, and the other was because of the child.
The last time Jiang Chuting had dinner with Jiang Xian, Jiang Xian asked him curiously why he didn't drink. Jiang Chuting thought for a moment and told him the truth about his pregnancy. He was so shocked that he almost scratched his scalp raw.
At that time, Pei Jing had already ascended the throne. Jiang Xian was very worried about his future and told him to flee for his life as far away as possible.
"If he finds out you're pregnant, he might really kill you."
If we go back, we'll only implicate our senior brothers. It's better to do as Jiang Xian said and hide for as long as we can.
But Jiang Chuting also understood that as long as Pei Jing hadn't forgotten him, this day would eventually come.
Alone, Jiang Chuting continued to travel around wearing a mask, as always, helping anyone in need, big or small. Now, unless touched, her body was completely hidden by her clothes, so there were no inconveniences.
That day, Jiang Chuting traveled to a small town and braved the rain to help an elderly person living alone rest their roof. His clothes were wet, and he felt a little cold when the wind blew.
There weren't many people in the town, and there was only one inn. Jiang Chuting brushed the water droplets off his clothes and hair, stepped inside, lifted his robe, and sat down properly: "Waiter, bring me a pot of hot tea first."
The little one in her belly started moving around restlessly again. Jiang Chuting was already used to it, so she sat calmly and looked around.
It was raining, and the sky was getting dark. Only a dim candle was lit in the entire hall. After the waiter left, there was no one else around.
The entire inn was eerily quiet.
Realizing something, Jiang Chuting's pupils narrowed slightly. He grabbed his longsword, stood up, and walked outside, only to find that there was nowhere to escape.
In the rain and mist, about a hundred guards, long swords at their waists and dressed in black, rushed over. They were well-trained, their steps perfectly synchronized, and they surrounded the inn, forming a dense, dark mass as far as the eye could see. Behind them, there was also a surge of footsteps, which sounded like at least twenty people.
Jiang Chuting gripped his sword tightly, his heart sinking. With so many people around, even if he had wings, he couldn't escape.
The man at the head of the group outside the door lifted his rain hat, stepped forward, and bowed to Jiang Chuting, saying, "Young Master, how have you been?"
Jiang Chuting put one hand behind his back and said to him, "My lord, what an impressive display of power."
His tone was distinctly calm, yet Mo Lin felt a sense of humiliation, as if he were being mocked. He straightened up, his dark eyes meeting Mo Lin's face, and said in a deep voice, "I am only acting on my master's orders. Please come with me."
Jiang Chuting remained silent, her fingers tracing the hilt of her sword. This was far more than just a matter of making a trip.
Once they leave, they may never be able to come back.
Mo Lin caught a glimpse of his movements, sighed silently, and said, "Don't even think about hiding, you can't escape."
Mo Lin kindly reminded him, "He's determined to get it. For everyone's sake, you'd better obediently come with me to see him."
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