Atonement and Judgment
As soon as Chen Jin stepped into the dining hall, the wooden door behind him slammed shut with a loud bang.
In an instant, several gazes bore down on him like physical objects. Scrutinizing, angry, cold... He felt as if each one was a knife, slowly slicing him apart layer by layer. The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; he could even hear the muffled thump of his own heart against his chest.
Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit separated him from Su Baiwei and Tiao Tiao on the left and right, their bodies as straight as pine trees, obviously to prevent him from suddenly attacking and hurting the two of them.
Daben kicked the ground hard, the chair legs scraping against the blue bricks with a harsh sound. His burly body completely blocked the doorway, his eyes wide open, as if he was about to pounce and devour him alive.
Sally's fingers on the hilt of the Purple Cloud Sword suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white. She raised her eyes, her cold gaze piercing Chen Jin like a sharp blade.
Dada had quietly walked to the window without knowing when, stroking the window frame with his fingertips, his eyes seemed to fall unintentionally on the green plums in the yard. His posture was elegant, but he happened to block the only possible path to the outside.
Dou Dou's eyes roamed back and forth on Chen Jin's face, not missing any fluctuations in his expression, trying to judge whether he was an enemy or a friend.
After hearing Chen Jin's story and seeing the crowd's fearful reaction, Mu Jin's face paled. She instinctively shrank back, her eyes filled with fear. But then, she remembered the pain her young lady had endured while feeding the Gu with her blood for twelve years, and her fear instantly turned to rage. She clutched the corner of her clothes, mustered her courage, and glared at Chen Jin fiercely.
Uncle Li sighed heavily, a sigh filled with endless disappointment, sorrow, and the bitterness of the past, more like a heavy condemnation. He turned away, unable to bear to look.
The two people at the center of this storm seemed to be on the sidelines.
Su Baiwei scooped up a spoonful of warm soup, blew on it gently, and then passed it to Tiao Tiao's lips. Her eyebrows were drooping, and not even her eyelashes trembled.
Tiaotiao drank slowly from her hand, then leaned back lazily in his chair. A faint smile played at the corner of his lips, a half-smile. His gaze passed over Chen Jin with a look of disdain and indifference, as if he were glimpsing an unsightly dead object. He held Su Baiwei's hand, his fingertips seemingly carelessly touching the back of her hand.
Only she could sense that beneath that calm touch, his muscles had already tensed up, harbouring a fierce murderous intent to kill with one blow.
The air stagnated, weighing heavily on Chen Jin's chest. Every breath he took was accompanied by a subtle tremor. Cold sweat soaked his back, and the cold fabric of his clothes clung to his skin, stirring a shudder. His Adam's apple rolled with difficulty as he tried to swallow the nonexistent lump, his dry lips trembling slightly.
"Tell me about your accomplice." Su Baiwei didn't raise her eyes or look at him. She just picked up a piece of seasonal vegetables with chopsticks and calmly handed it to Tiao Tiao's lips.
Chen Jin looked around panicking, seeing all those cold and scrutinizing faces. Finally, his pleading gaze fell back on Su Baiwei. "Wei... Miss Su," he said hoarsely, changing his tone. "This matter concerns our lives... There are so many people here, what if... can you please speak with me for a moment?"
"No."
Tiaotiao's voice was not loud, but it was like a piece of cold stone, shattering the last bit of hope in Chen Jin's eyes. He was still leaning back in his chair leisurely, but there was no warmth in his eyes when he looked at Chen Jin.
"If you have something to say," he said with a smile, "I'll say it here."
The invisible pressure suddenly tightened. Chen Jin's tongue tasted bitter, and he subconsciously avoided Tiao Tiao's gaze, which seemed to be able to peel off his skin. His voice unconsciously lowered, even taking on a hint of panic: "The identity of the accomplice... must be kept secret. There are so many people here. If I tell you, and the news leaks out, he... he will definitely die!" The last word trembled, almost shrouded in pleading.
"Are you qualified to negotiate?" Sally raised her eyebrows, her gaze piercing his eyes like a needle. Chen Jin felt a chill in his heart and unconsciously took a step back.
"Information." Su Baiwei's tone remained calm. She picked up another piece of fresh bamboo shoots and brought it to Tiao Tiao's lips. Her movements were smooth and gentle, as if the tension around her had nothing to do with her.
Chen Jin's Adam's apple rolled violently, and cold sweat trickled down his temples. His dry lips trembled, and he finally managed to squeeze out a voice with difficulty: "Chi Lian has set up two core points within the Mother Gu formation, one real and one fake."
As the words fell, everyone's heart trembled.
The surroundings were suffocatingly quiet.
Chen Jin's Adam's apple moved as he managed to speak with difficulty. "It's a fake formation center, heavily guarded and riddled with traps. All clues point there. He knew you would escort... Miss Su to break the formation, so he'd already set up the 'Dragon Trapping Formation' there." His voice trembled. "Once she enters, it will be difficult to escape. A large number of medicine men will then pour out and besiege the rest of you. He's certain you won't abandon her. Even if the seven swords combine, as long as he uses a hundred core medicine men to constantly consume you, once you're exhausted, he'll be able to enter the formation and take her away."
He took a breath, the murderous intent all around him making it hard to breathe. His voice couldn't help but lower itself a bit, "The true core of the formation is hidden deep within an extremely secret, seemingly unrelated abandoned branch. The defense is relatively weak."
Each of his words struck like a hammer, shaking everyone's heart and soul. Based on Mu Jin's instructions and the map, they knew the location of the Mother Gu formation, but they had never anticipated Chi Lian's viciousness and cunning. Without knowing the truth, they were doomed to step into this carefully woven web of death.
Su Baiwei paused for a moment as she scooped up the soup, then, as usual, poured it into Tiao Tiao's mouth. Without raising her eyes, she simply uttered two words, "Map."
Chen Jin's hands trembled slightly as he reached into his chest and fumbled for a moment before pulling out a wrinkled parchment map. Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit exchanged glances, then took it first, carefully tracing the edge of the map with their fingertips before scrutinizing it against the light for a moment. Only after confirming it was intact did they nod.
Mu Jin quickly stood up and, along with Dou Dou, moved a few dishes to the side, clearing a space on the table. The clinking of cups and plates was particularly clear in the dead silence.
Chen Jin glanced anxiously at Hongmao and Lantu, then slowly moved to the table after receiving their tacit approval. He took a deep breath and pointed at a spot on the map. "This... this is the fake center of the formation..." His voice faltered at first, but gradually steadied under the focused gaze of the crowd. "Chi Lian has heavily deployed troops here, with traps and hidden passages everywhere. It seems impenetrable... but the true center of the formation is hidden deep within this abandoned branch."
His finger traced a winding, obscure path. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the parchment, as if they wanted to engrave every inch of it into their minds.
Dada had quietly approached without him noticing. He quickly scanned every notation on the parchment, mentally comparing it with Tiao Tiao's map. His brow furrowed slightly, his fingertips tapping lightly on the tabletop. The veins' direction, the branching mine tunnels... were perfectly accurate. This was either a flawless trap or incredibly accurate intelligence. He looked up and exchanged a glance with Hongmao.
Hongmao understood, his eyes fixed on Chen Jin's face, and he asked in a deep voice: "Guard deployment? Shift change time? Are there any secret codes or passwords?" His questions were accurate and fast, going straight to the point, leaving the other party no room to breathe or make up stories.
Chen Jin was stunned by the barrage of questions, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He quickly replied, "The guards are divided into three shifts, and each shift..." He lowered his voice and listed several key time points and identification methods.
Tiao Tiao continued to lean back in his chair, seemingly languid, but a sharp light flickered in the depths of his half-lidded eyes. Following Chen Jin's instructions, he was rapidly running through several different infiltration and assault routes in his mind, weighing each option's potential for success against the costs involved. His plans vacillated between "feasible" and "too risky." His fingertips unconsciously traced the arm of his chair, drawing symbols no one could understand.
Su Baiwei held the spoon, still suspended in mid-air, her gaze fixed on the sheepskin map. Every trap and path Chen Jin had described swiftly transformed into a deduction of military strategies and formations in her mind. "Encircling three sides and leaving one side empty, leaving only a path for survival is a dead end... Chi Lian's move truly embodies the essence of cunning." Her expression remained calm, yet her mind was already racing with images of war and iron cavalry, a murderous intent looming.
Lan Tu stood beside Hong Mao, surveying the abandoned branch leading to the true formation's center on the map, memorizing every possible location along the way where an ambush or hidden sentry might be set. Her right hand rested lightly on the hilt of the Ice Soul Sword, her aura calm and composed, yet her whole being exuded a vigilance ready to respond to any eventuality.
The only sounds in the air were Chen Jin's dry explanation and the suppressed breathing of the crowd.
After he finished speaking, the dining hall fell into silence again.
After a moment, Tiao Tiao slowly raised his eyes. His gaze was like an icy blade, scraping across Chen Jin's pale face inch by inch.
"Who is the accomplice?" His voice was not loud, but deep enough to crush bones, and every word pierced the dead silence.
Chen Jin seemed to be nailed to the spot, his lips trembling but no sound coming out.
Uncle Li sighed heavily and finally spoke, his voice old and tired: "There are no outsiders here. Tell me, child... How many lives are at stake?"
Chen Jin panted heavily, his eyes darting around in panic before finally closing in despair. He clenched his trembling fists, straining his strength as he forced a whimper through his teeth: "The captain of the third squad... I, I once did him a favor. He... participated in the arrangement of the false formation's center."
"Even if this picture is real," Dada said slowly, his tone calm but distant, "Master Chen, why would you take such a risk? Chi Lian should still be chasing you."
Chen Jin stared at Su Baiwei's back, his eyes filled with pain and regret. "I... am doing this to atone for my sins." He choked with sobs, his voice trailing off. "If I hadn't begged so earnestly, Master wouldn't have made such a horrible mistake... And because of my cowardice, Miss Wei... Su has endured these twelve years of torture alone."
His voice became increasingly low, trembling. "For twelve years, I haven't had a single sleepless night. I've been tormented by regret every moment. I know it's too late to say anything now, but I simply can't watch her face her own death..." He took a deep breath, as if exhausting all his strength. "I owe her this, and I must repay her."
Tiao Tiao suddenly chuckled and said nonchalantly, "Senior Brother Chen chose a good time to 'atone'. It's just when we are about to take action and urgently need intelligence." He deliberately emphasized the word "senior brother" and his voice was full of sarcasm.
Chen Jin was stung by the stinging name, his body trembling violently. He instinctively took a half step back, his lips trembling as he tried to defend himself, "No, no... I really am..." But the words faltered on his lips, leaving only a series of broken breaths. His eyes darted anxiously around the crowd, finally landing on Su Baiwei's still calm profile. The look in his eyes was like that of a drowning man desperately trying to grasp something. Cold sweat trickled down his temples, precariously clung to his jaw.
Su Baiwei finally responded, but not to Chen Jin, but to Tiao Tiao. She picked up a silk handkerchief, gently wiped the corner of his lips, and said softly, "The soup is getting a little cold. Do you want more?"
She completely ignored Chen Jin's eloquent confession, as if it was just a gust of wind passing by her ears, insignificant and leaving no trace.
Chen Jin watched this scene, watched Su Baiwei's silhouette completely isolate him from the outside world, and a chill ran up from the soles of his feet, as if freezing his heart. All his explanations, all his pain, in her eyes, had long lost all meaning.
Sally finally lost control and slammed her palm down on the table, causing the dishes to clang. Her voice was as cold as ice, and the rage in her eyes threatened to incinerate the person before her. "You've harmed more than just Bai Wei! Do you know who he is?" She suddenly pointed at Tiao Tiao.
Chen Jin looked up blankly.
"He is the Master of the Azure Light Sword," Sally said, hammering each word in as if hammering the final nail into the coffin. "He is the young master of the Azure Dragon Sect, the only one to survive, who was driven to destruction by your combined forces! Now, due to the 'good poison' you developed, he has less than three months left to live!"
Mu Jin was startled, and the dishes beside her fell over with a clang. She looked at Tiao Tiao, her eyes full of disbelief.
Like a thunderclap crashing through his skull, Chen Jin's pupils suddenly constricted and trembled violently. The last trace of color drained from his face, and he felt like he'd been struck hard. His knees buckled, and he fell heavily onto the cold, hard bricks. His lips trembled violently, and a broken "ho... ho..." rasped from his throat, but he couldn't utter a single word, as if an invisible hand were gripping his throat.
Tiaotiao remained leaning back in his chair, the usual faint smile finally vanishing. He didn't look at the kneeling figure, his jawline tense, his knuckles bulging and bluish-white from pressing against the armrest. Only Su Baiwei could sense the hand holding hers suddenly turning icy cold.
Su Baiwei abruptly turned away, as if she couldn't bear even a second glance. Her gaze quickly swept across Tiao Tiao's tense profile, then scanned the various expressions on the faces of the people in the room. Seeing that no one raised any objections, a cold voice sounded at the perfect moment, breaking the silence.
"Uncle Li."
The old servant, who had been looking away, could not bear to watch any longer, replied gravely, "Miss."
"Take him to the clinic and keep a good eye on him." Her voice was flat and emotionless. "No one is allowed to come in or out at will. Make sure the doors and windows are locked securely."
"Oh... yes." Uncle Li sighed deeply, walked forward, and patted Chen Jin's completely collapsed shoulders, "Let's go." Seeing that the other party was already limp as mud, he had no choice but to half-help and half-carry him to his feet.
Daben had a cold face and kicked his legs suddenly, sliding to the side with the chair. The chair legs made a harsh sound when rubbing against the blue bricks, and he opened the door to the outside.
He crossed his arms and watched Uncle Li help the distraught Chen Jin out. He spat fiercely at the door, "Bah! Such a heartless person should be tied up tightly with the hemp rope used to tie up livestock and thrown out to feed the stray dogs! Staying here is simply a filth to Huichun Hall!"
Chen Jin, who had been dragged to the porch, trembled violently when he heard the undisguised disgust and scolding, and his head drooped even lower, almost burying it in his chest.
The door of the clinic locked with a click, temporarily sealing the heavy sins and despair inside.
In the dining hall, Su Baiwei put the soup spoon she had been holding back into the bowl. Her previous appetite had long since disappeared.
Tiaotiao's tense shoulders finally relaxed, and a wave of deep fatigue washed over her like a tide. It was the weariness etched by years of struggle and the recent confrontation. He tilted his head, meeting her equally weary eyes. In an instant, they connected, a sympathetic connection. He gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips, a silent comfort, a subconscious embrace amidst exhaustion.
Su Baiwei raised her eyes to meet his, their gazes meeting, a thousand words condensed into that moment. She grasped his fingers with her backhand, drawing his cold fingertips into her palm and slowly warming them with her body heat.
Everyone looked at each other, seeing the same solemnity and repression on their faces. No one spoke, and they gathered around the table again in silence. The aroma of the food that had lingered seemed to have dissipated, leaving only the cold, heavy air that enveloped everyone tightly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
