Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Repeat the chapter, don't...
The insects chirped as she took the wine cup from his hand and took a sip before he drank.
It smells just as fragrant, tastes hot and spicy, and ignites the throat vigorously.
She choked and coughed, and Gu Huaijin patted her on the back gently.
"His lover was finally arrested right here in Lantai. When I asked her why she came here, she said it was the last good time she and my father would have."
The person she was talking about was none other than the head of Zi Ni Hall, whom she had gone out to clean up in the middle of the night.
She lowered her eyes, turned his wine cup, and said nothing.
"Since then, my father has ordered the blockade of Lantai." He smiled and smoothed her hair. "So, the last person to come here was a spy seven or eight years ago."
"Are you afraid of going to a place where few people go?"
She didn't know what she felt in her heart, but the mountain breeze seemed to suddenly blow through her clothes and penetrate her.
Even the shawl he had just put on her was blown through.
She remained silent, her long eyelashes fluttering like a pair of frightened butterflies.
"Don't be afraid." He smiled and pulled her towards him.
She wanted to rely on him for a moment, so she leaned on him and pulled her shawl tighter.
"That spy seems to have died a few days ago. Somehow, he fell into the water and died."
His voice was calm as usual, as if her death would not cause any ripples.
"But it might be hard when my father comes out of confinement."
The mountain breeze brought some dead leaf fragments and blew them into the folds of her skirt. She picked up the dead leaves and pinched them between her fingertips.
"Why?" she whispered. "Tell me about it."
He lowered his eyelashes.
The sky was full of stars and a cool breeze was blowing. She gradually leaned on his legs and lay on his knees as he sat cross-legged.
Gu Huaijin patted her on the back, like coaxing a child:
"My mother is the daughter of the head of the Kunlun Sect. Back then, because the two families knew each other well, they arranged a marriage. However, their relationship only lasted a few years after they got married. After my brother was born, they gradually grew tired of each other. Later, after completing his studies, my father left the mountains to travel. He met another woman in the market at the foot of the mountain."
"That woman was beautiful and straightforward, skilled in martial arts. She would stand up for justice when she saw it, and my father fell in love with her at first sight. However, she was unruly and untamable, and no matter how much my father begged, she refused to marry him as a concubine. So my father returned to the mountains and told my mother that he wanted to divorce her."
"When I returned to the mountain, I discovered my mother was pregnant again. She wouldn't allow it. The mountain was in turmoil over this matter, and Kunlun and Tianshan almost became enemies. In the end, both sides backed off and agreed to a divorce, but they would never allow that woman to be the headmaster's wife."
"At this point, because the woman refused to be a concubine, the two of them had to part ways."
"At this time, she was pregnant."
He patted her back and said in a leisurely voice:
"The situation changed in an instant. Because of this child, she had no choice but to bow her head and marry into Tianshan."
She had never heard that the head of Jiletang actually got pregnant in order to complete the mission.
"Not long after, for unknown reasons, she had a miscarriage."
"My mother originally thought that with her two children and the Kunlun Sect behind her, her position as the legal wife was unshakable. Unexpectedly, ever since that woman had a miscarriage, my father has been obsessed with her, as if possessed by a demon. He stays by her bedside every day, ignoring everything else."
"When the woman felt a little better, my father asked my mother to divorce her again."
"My mother had been pampered in the Kunlun Sect since she was little. She had never suffered such an injustice before, so she immediately divorced my father. Before she left, she didn't even take us with her, saying that we were stained with my father's blood, and she didn't even want to look at us."
He smiled gently, spread out his palms, and looked at the body he inherited from his mother, nonchalantly, as if talking about someone else's business.
"My brother and I were abandoned by our mother. My brother was better off, at least she raised him for a few years. Me? I have almost no memory of her. If I do, it was her pointing at my nose with a frown, calling me 'Gu Qingyao's thing.'"
Only then did she understand why Gu Huaijin, who was praised by everyone, often endured being ignored. There was someone who favored him and she held on to him and refused to let go.
"My father loved that woman, and no one on the mountain could stop him. After my mother left the mountain, he quickly made her his wife. She became the headmaster's wife, and the elders had to accept it even if they didn't want to. If things had continued this way, the situation would have calmed down."
The hand that was patting her back stopped at some point, and his tone was hazy, as if he was talking about his past life.
"But later on, I discovered that the woman was a spy who came up the mountain. She came up the mountain with the intention of killing my father."
Suddenly, two heart-wrenching bird cries were heard in the dark shadows of the trees below the cliff.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
"In fact," he laughed sarcastically, "her identity was exposed not because she killed my father, but because she was going to poison my father and gave it to my brother."
Would Master Zi Ni make such a simple mistake?
"My brother is dead," he lamented. "The elders loved him immensely; he was far superior to me in every way. His death left the elders in deep sorrow, and my father fell seriously ill. Even so, they couldn't bring themselves to take the woman's life, and instead locked her up on Chaoyao Peak."
Chaoyao Peak.
She slowly tightened her hand on his arm.
"But I didn't expect that my mother, who had already divorced and returned to her parents' home, heard that my brother had been poisoned and came back to force my father to kill the woman."
"But even at this point, my father still refused to kill her. However, under pressure from all sides, he had no choice but to send the woman to the Death Water Prison."
"My mother would never let you go so easily. She had only been in the mountains for a few days when the grief of losing her son and the sorrow of her family being torn apart caused her to die of anger on Tianshan Mountain."
She was frightened and rubbed her temples.
"After that, my father fell ill and never got up again, forcing him to retreat to recuperate. Do you think Dad retreated to improve his martial arts? No. He was going to die if he didn't meditate and regulate his breathing."
"As for that woman... she has been imprisoned in the Passing Water Prison ever since. That day, Father only wanted to give her a minor punishment, a serious warning, and imprison her for three days. He didn't expect her to remain in the Passing Water Prison for the rest of her life."
She lay on his lap, and the moon was suddenly blocked by the clouds in the mountains. In the darkness, nothing could be seen clearly.
After a long while, she said, "What about you?"
"Me?" He smiled, touched her head, and said lightly, "My brother died, my mother died, and my father was seriously ill and in seclusion. Who else could take care of me? Naturally, I was punished by Huide in the mountains."
His home, his past, had been destroyed by the gate of rebirth.
Now, the gate of rebirth also wants to take his future.
She closed her eyes, and the moist mountain breeze blew against her body, cool and thin, making her feel cold.
"Then you..." She thought for a moment, didn't ask, and changed the question, "If you encountered such a thing, you should have killed her long ago."
Silent, waiting for his reaction.
He smiled, "How could I have encountered such a thing? Jiaojiao is worried that I'll fall in love with someone else?" He twirled his fingers around her earrings and sighed, "I simply can't leave you for a moment."
She held his hand, not allowing him to play around, her eyelashes drooping. "I mean, if you were Sect Leader Gu."
He didn't even hesitate: "Of course. How could I possibly keep her?"
The night dew was heavy, and a drop condensed on her long eyelashes.
Her eyelashes trembled, and the dewdrop fell on the hem of his clothes and shattered.
He raised his head.
The light purple clouds dispersed, and the night sky became clear again, with stars shining, and he sighed softly.
"...Father is always too soft-hearted. I used to be just like him, always kind-hearted, but these days, because of you..." He rubbed his index finger on her cheek, "because of you, I realized that being so kind doesn't work."
He lowered his head, as if protecting her, and whispered softly:
"Those who should be dealt with must be dealt with. Those who should be punished must be punished, and those who should be killed must be killed. Otherwise..."
She listened silently, slowly got up from his legs, sat up straight, and put her knees together, avoiding his knees as if to avoid suspicion.
“…Otherwise, it will be my Jiaojiao who will suffer.”
He hugged her gently, closed his eyes, and kissed her forehead.
She was numb and expressionless, and she held her shawl tightly around her body.
"Go back." He said, "It's too cold, you must be cold."
*
Inside Mingyue Pavilion.
Knowing that she liked to eat lychees, Gu Huaijin specially asked someone to send up some fresh lychees from the foot of the peak and piled them into a cone in the eight-treasure fruit plate.
She came back from Lantai without saying a word, and her expression was tired. Her face was as white as a piece of rice paper. Even if she glanced at him, she would quickly look away.
He was a little nervous and rubbed her face like a cat, "What's wrong? Are you not happy?"
"No." She looked away and let him take off her shawl.
"Why not?" He held her face and followed her eyes. "Don't fool me. I know what you're thinking just by looking at me."
What can you know?
She gave a barely perceptible smile, turned her head, and pushed his hand away.
I don't want to face him, I don't want to think about anything. If I do, every thought will hurt myself.
When her mind is full of embroidery needles, she likes to close her eyes and sleep.
She changed into her pajamas, rolled into the couch, turned her back to him, and curled up her knees: "I'm sleepy, let's go to sleep."
"Don't go to sleep yet, let's talk later." Gu Huaijin lit up the floor lamps in the corner one by one, went to the window and pressed the curtains tighter on all four sides, then sat back beside the couch and leaned over to look at her.
The flickering candlelight illuminated his brow and nose, making them look as three-dimensional as jade. He flicked her eyelashes:
"Tomorrow, I have to go down the mountain for a meeting and can't stay here with you."
She was facing the candlelight, and her expression was unclear: "Yeah."
"Since you said we don't have to go back and forth that day, then I won't rush back."
He waited quietly for her reply.
She said, "Yeah."
He was disappointed.
She is always like this, as if it is okay not to see him, it is okay to be without him, she is indifferent whether he is there or not.
He thought for a moment, then slowly pulled up the quilt to cover her chin.
"There's been a lot of activity on the mountain lately. I'm afraid if I go there, I'll have to attend meetings for several days straight, and I won't be back for ten days or half a month."
He continued to expect her to give an answer.
She didn't say anything and just said "hmm" again.
His long eyelashes drooped.
He didn't want to wait any longer. He felt empty and panicked, so he got on the bed, grabbed her waist from behind, and put his hands on her lower abdomen and clasped them together.
"Come with me." He closed his eyes and gently kissed her long hair. "Come with me down from Chaoyao Peak and stay at Muxueyuan for a few days. Stay with me, okay?"
She closed her eyes. The candlelight flickered in her dark vision, changing unpredictably, like an abyss right before her eyes:
"I'm not going. You go by yourself."
"You're on the peak by yourself, aren't you afraid?" He hugged her, his chest wrapped around her slender back, opened her collar, and kissed her shoulders bit by bit. "There are only two servants. No one will accompany you, and no one will cover you with a blanket at night. What will you do if you catch a cold? Be obedient."
She doesn't speak.
He also knew in his heart that it was not her who was afraid, but he was afraid.
"Talk." He was forced into a corner and kissed her neck. "Come down with me, dear."
She liked his teasing, but now, she didn't know whether it was right or wrong to let him whisper sweet words like this.
If we continue like this, what will be ahead?
"No." She shrank her neck to avoid him, but he pressed her deep into his arms.
He heard her three words and bit her neck gently: "No."
"I'm not afraid. I don't catch cold that easily."
"No." He closed his eyes. "You always wake up at night and sleep lightly. I used to have to comfort you several times every night. Don't you know that?"
She was breathless from the kiss. When one's senses take over, one always feels languid and lazy. "I don't need to sleep."
"Stop talking nonsense." He hated hearing her not taking care of herself, and every time he heard it, he would immediately get angry. "I asked someone to make you some meat and vegetables to nourish you, but you refused to eat. You knew you had a cold, but you didn't care. Now, you don't have to sleep anymore, and you insist that I..."
He stopped talking and started biting her again.
A row of teeth marks filled with hatred.
This time, he bit deeper than usual. She felt pain and hissed, "Why do you always bite me..."
"Come down with me." He kissed her neck. "With your personality, I won't feel at ease unless I watch over you myself."
Why is it so annoying? She turned around and looked at him.
At first glance, although his tone was strong, his eyes were nervous and sad. Against the candlelight, his eyes were particularly bright, like a puppy waiting to be patted on the head.
Why does he become so uneasy every time I neglect him a little?
She was silent for a moment: "Let's talk about it tomorrow."
"Jiaojiao," he turned her face over and closed her eyes, "Kiss me."
The shadow of the floor lamp behind him swayed left and right on the wall with the candlelight.
She was in a dilemma.
The way he closed his eyes, his long eyelashes drooping, was like a pair of butterflies resting on his face, fragile and pious, and her heart trembled.
She kissed him and said, "Go to sleep, Huaijin."
Although she was the first one to say she wanted to sleep, she hardly slept the whole night.
She didn't know how long she tossed and turned on the pillow. The moon shone coldly in from the window, illuminating everything that was warm and friendly in the morning - the calligraphy he was copying, her small sweater lying aside, the red wool he had casually placed on the table - all of which were silent, cold, and eerie.
Gu Huaijin fell asleep. He had always slept better than her, but before, if she woke up, he would wake up too.
Today, she was not found awake, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She hugged the quilt and slowly sat up.
If she keeps delaying, how much longer can she delay?
Each mission within the Rebirth Gate had a one-year deadline. It was only almost five months now, so she still had half the time left.
In seven months, she might have already escaped from the Mist Blade and left the mountain through the secret passage. By then, she would have to say goodbye to Gu Huaijin, but if he survived, it would be the best and most ideal outcome.
What if I don’t leave him?
Suddenly I remembered what Zi Ni said at that time.
"Your best option is to stay on the mountain, rely on the protection of the Tianshan Sect, and honestly serve as the Sect Master's wife."
Were these words her regret after failing to achieve her goal by poisoning?
However, if she really became the headmaster's wife, to what extent could the Tianshan Sect protect her?
Wu Dao can accept missions on the mountain. The Tianshan Sect is quite proud of its access control, but in fact it may have been completely infiltrated by the Wangsheng Sect.
If she took off her mask after a year, turned her back on the Tianshan Sect, and openly betrayed the Wangsheng Sect, Gu Huaijin would naturally protect her. However, the Wangsheng Sect was feared by everyone in the martial arts world, and even if the Tianshan Sect protected her, the chances of success were only 50%.
If the Tianshan Sect lost, Gu Huaijin would still die. If she fell into the hands of the Wangsheng Sect, her death would be a thousand times more miserable than Gu Huaijin's.
If... she didn't betray the Wangsheng Gate and Gu Huaijin.
With the Yin-Yang Key in her hands, she could retrieve the Mountain Guarding Jade Plate at any time. Gu Huaijin relied on her to the point where he felt uncomfortable if he couldn't see her for a day. If she wanted to kill him, it would be easy.
Now, the mission she came here to carry out was too easy for her.
As long as she wanted, she could draw the fourth circle on her case file in the trial office at any time.
only.
She rubbed her brows.
Such a simple thing, but now she is unwilling to do it.
She didn't want to think about why, for fear that if she figured it out she would have to wake up. She twisted her fingers around a thread on the silk quilt.
The best way is to find an opportunity to get rid of Mist Blade within seven months and then leave without saying goodbye.
She went down the mountain and they went their separate ways.
She understood Wu Dao's personality. She might be able to keep him company for seven months. Besides, it might not even take seven months.
As for Gu Huaijin.
He trusted her so much that as long as she behaved herself and pretended to love him, it would be almost impossible for him to doubt her.
She made up her mind, covered her chest, and let out a long sigh.
He was still sleeping soundly, facing her, sleeping soundly and peacefully, breathing evenly and slowly, with his eyes closed, like a contented child.
Gu Huaijin relied on her so much that he didn't know what to do when they parted.
She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his eyelashes.
"Ouch, that's disgusting."
Wu Dao's mocking voice echoed in his ears. In the dead of night, only the sound could be heard, but no one could be seen. The tone was like that of a demon.
When she heard his voice, she felt cold all over, her hair stood on end, and she began to shiver.
What a coincidence.
Just when she was thinking about... betrayal.
"It's the middle of the night, and you're still awake. What's the matter? Did you have to toss and turn after listening to Zi Ni's story last night?"
She steadied her breathing. Even if the sky fell, she wouldn't let Wu Dao see her guilty conscience.
"You're still awake? That's perfect, I have something to ask you. Why did the former hall master give the same poison meant for Gu Qingyao to Gu Zhi?"
Wu Dao laughed:
"Her medicine was tailor-made for Gu Qingyao. When he was young, Gu Qingyao was ambushed by the Danding Sect. After escaping death by chance, he became somewhat immune to all poisons. The poison, for Gu Qingyao, was a slow-acting poison, weakening him day by day; for others, it was a deadly poison, killing them in one bite. They had a deep father-son relationship, and they loved each other so much that they fed him mouthful after mouthful. Who could possibly stop them?"
"What a pity, there's only one person named Gu left. His father doesn't seem to like him very much. Otherwise, if not all three of them were sent away at once, at least two could have been sent away."
She lowered her eyes, looked at the sleeping Gu Huaijin, and moved her fingers.
"Why did you have to use a slow-acting poison? The former hall master was particularly skilled with the sword, and Gu Qingyao trusted her so much. If she had struck with one sword, none of this would have happened."
"Who knows?" Wu Dao smiled even more proudly. "You'd have to ask her about this kind of thing. But, from my point of view, what else could it be?"
She didn't say anything.
"That woman fell in love with him." Wu Dao laughed. "Isn't this kind of thing common? Because she fell in love, even if she took action, she couldn't bear to let him watch her betray her. She wanted him to die without knowing it. If he wanted to stop, he could still stop and there is a way back. But she dragged it on and on, and before he died, she was exposed first."
"So, Nan Qiong Shuang," he said, "when you strike, you must either use your sword or your silk thread. If you do anything else, I will consider you a traitor. Don't try to play tricks on me."
She closed her eyes.
The person sleeping soundly on the other side of the bed suddenly opened his mouth: "...Jiaojiao."
She looked quickly.
Gu Huaijin didn't wake up, he was just talking in his sleep.
Even in my dreams, her name was on my lips.
Wu Dao listened to his mumbling and laughed, "This man really fell for you. I've been with you for so many years, and I've never met such a fool." His tone suddenly changed, and he became excited. "Tell me, if he knew that the person he loved so much never existed, what kind of expression would he have?"
Nan Qiongshuang's heart trembled.
She is not Chu Jiaojiao. There is no Chu Jiaojiao in this world.
It's not that she doesn't understand, but she is deceiving herself and deliberately not understanding.
"I came here today for a second matter."
She was stunned.
Wu Dao said, "The situation has changed. There is a new mission within the sect, and you must go. Let's leave things here as they are for now."
"What do you mean 'just leave it at that'?" She frowned.
"We'll do as much as we can, and we'll take it as far as we can," he said. "If we don't have the Mountain Guarding Jade Plate, then forget it. If we can kill someone, we'll kill them first."
"One month later, on the night of our engagement, you kill him, and we'll return to the Rebirth Gate together to report."
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