Chapter 140 The one who tied the knot must untie it if things don't go as planned.
Wisps of white smoke rose from the houses at the foot of the barren mountain.
Because of the sudden serious illness a few months ago, the villagers became more estranged and strangers to each other. Neighbors who used to greet each other and invite each other to their homes for meals have now become distant guests whom everyone avoids and dares not even joke with.
Zhou Yongyin was perhaps the only one among them who lived a relatively comfortable life. He had lived in the deep mountains for a long time, and after Jiang Yu was no longer by his side, he had long since become accustomed to living alone.
He did not contract the disease, remained healthy, had no worries about money, and was free to do whatever he wanted. He also became a pillar of support in the hearts of the villagers, capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities and solving major problems.
Zhou Yongyin had just left his residence with Xian Chen that morning when a few people arrived from the foot of the mountain. They were looking for someone to chat with to relieve their boredom. Only someone like Zhou Yongyin, who lacked nothing and wanted nothing, made them feel at ease talking to him.
After Tang Ling fell ill, his father, who had spoiled his child rotten, seemed to have become a completely different person. He felt that Jiang Yu was involved in the matter, but dared not cause any more trouble. Later, he heard from the sect disciples stationed at the foot of the mountain that Young Master Jiang and Sect Master Shen had left, so he went to visit Zhou Yongyin in the desolate mountain every day.
But in reality, it was just a visit on the surface; only they knew what they were really planning. Zhou Yongyin and Tang Rongshan knew each other very well, and Zhou always greeted him with a smile and offered him tea whenever he came over.
Tang Rongshan didn't go with those people this morning. He got up a little late and went to the next room to check on his sleeping son. Seeing that his son was still asleep, he reached out to touch the scar on his face from the scratching.
Tang Ling was the one with the most severe injuries at that time. Later, Jiang Yu used Xian Chen to control his condition, but he was practically crippled.
His ferocious appearance and ruthless nature were fully exposed to the world. Over time, the stories he had caused spread widely in the area, making it difficult for him to find a suitable wife for his son.
A pang of heartache flashed in Tang Rongshan's eyes. If it weren't for Jiang Yu, if it weren't for him saving these people, his son wouldn't have become the special one among a group of healthy villagers.
So these past few days he's been running back and forth up and down the mountain, trying to find some secret about Jiang Yu, but after Jiang Yu left, he couldn't find him at all, he only knew that Jiang Yu left a sword here.
The sword was guarded by the disciples, and Tang Rongshan had never had a chance to see it. Coincidentally, he went to find Zhou Yongyin as usual. Before he even saw the person, he heard a sound. The wind rustled through the leaves, and Zhou Yongyin flew over his head, followed closely by a silver light.
That silver light was a sword.
Even if Tang Rongshan had never eaten pork, he had seen pigs run. These past few days, countless disciples had come and gone in this area, and he could tell at a glance that it was a sword, and a good one at that.
Could it be the sword that Jiang Yu left behind?
Before Tang Rongshan could think it through, his wife rushed over, panting, and said, "Rongshan, Ling'er... he's gone missing. I saw the house was a complete mess and was wondering what happened when I heard them say... they said Ling'er seems to have fallen ill again and they don't know where he's gone."
The woman was sweating profusely, her chest heaving. "Husband, say something! What if something happens to Ling'er now that he's run away?"
“What could possibly happen to him? He’s so sick, even if he bites someone else, they’ll be the ones who suffer. I’d rather have more people like Ling’er around, so that everyone won’t look at him with such strange eyes.”
Tang Rongshan glared at the woman, then whispered in her ear, "Go back first, and don't shout or yell when you see people. If they hear you, Ling'er will be in real trouble."
"Even if this doesn't work out, it's enough that Jiang Yu has to put in more effort to save people." He looked in the direction Zhou Yongyin had left, a smile playing on his lips. Suddenly, the chickens and ducks in the wooden house enclosure squawked out at an inopportune moment, their shrill cries making one feel uncomfortable.
"Walk."
Tang Rongshan led the woman down the mountain, while the disciples guarding the area remained in place, seemingly unaware that anything was amiss.
"Young Master Jiang, Sect Leader Shen's hand—"
"He moved! He moved!" Ye Zishan, sharp-eyed and quick-witted, immediately exclaimed, his right arm outstretched as his slightly bent fingers trembled. "Young Master Jiang, has Sect Master Shen woken up? He seems to be awake!"
Chu Jue, who was standing to the side, was also pleasantly surprised. If it weren't for his age and the need to save face in front of the younger generation, he would have almost shouted out loud.
After thinking for a moment and trying to control his excitement, Chu Jue very tactfully pulled Ye Zishan and another equally troublesome disciple away. After giving them a few meaningful glances, they finally understood what he meant.
But when Chu Jue turned around, he realized that this was another situation he was not good to get involved in. Xi Chuang and Lian Chisu looked at each other. In this game, one side would eventually be injured, or worse, both sides would be injured.
"So, even though the sect leader recognized me the first time he saw me, he still pretended to be nice to me out of respect for my master, is that right?"
Xi Chuang questioned him, saying that he had transferred his spiritual power to Lian Quesheng and suffered a sword strike from Lian Chisu. The backlash from symbiosis and exchanging life for life weighed heavily on this body that had long been dead, like insurmountable mountains or sharp thorns.
"Do you really think I wouldn't notice if a child suddenly appeared next to Quesheng?"
“If you were truly innocent, I would have sent Fushu to fetch you the moment you stepped into Bailuzhou. Why would I have waited half a year and sent you here covered in injuries?” Lian Chisu said slowly. “All of this is your own fault. If you hadn’t done those bad things, none of this would have happened.”
"The Taoist priest who told Quesheng's fortune said he wouldn't live past this year, but the divination changed later. The one who tied the knot must untie it. His words gave me a glimmer of hope. When I saw you by his side, I planned everything. You fell in love with Quesheng, and everything you did for him was within my expectations."
"Therefore, I did not stop you from getting closer and closer to Quesheng, and even personally sent you to Xingchenque to fulfill your wish to become his apprentice."
“I know about what you did to Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu. Do you really think all your plans are flawless? The silver used to bribe Lian Feng and Lian Gu, and the medicine given to the city lord of Yunshui City, were all arranged by me.”
"So, this is what you keep saying about being good to Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu, and even Chi Su? You're nothing but a person who will stop at nothing to satisfy your own selfish desires. What right do you have to lecture me?"
Xi Chuang sneered. Jiang Yu took in all their words but didn't react, because any trace of activity Shen Jiuxu had shown just moments before had vanished.
He thought things would turn out well, but reality seemed to be going against his wishes once again.
"You are selfish, cold-hearted, seemingly approachable but actually aloof. Lian Chisu, how long are you going to keep lying to others? I did a lot of bad things for Lian Quesheng, but what about you? You watched all of this in silence. Aren't you the mastermind behind it all?"
Lian Chisu was speechless. Xi Chuang had hit the nail on the head. She was getting deeper and deeper into trying to save Lian Quesheng's life. Gradually, Lian Chisu could no longer recognize herself. When the lives of the ordinary people she once wanted to protect were being played with by Xi Chuang, she became indifferent.
All of this terrified Lian Chisu.
"Jiang Yu." A hurried voice came from the horizon. It was Zhou Yongyin. As soon as Xian Chenjian put the man down, he rushed over in a panic. "Jiu Xu, how badly are you injured? Grandfather's eyelids have been twitching all morning. Something must have happened to you!"
The old man's hair was a mix of white and black, and his clothes were wrinkled when he arrived.
Jiang Yu didn't cry when Shen Jiuxu was unconscious, nor when he listened to Xi Chuang and Lian Chisu's words, nor when they treated him as part of their plan. He didn't cry when he was struck by lightning and felt pain all over his body. But now, when he saw Zhou Yongyin and saw the concern and worry on the face of the old man he hadn't seen for a long time, his eyes began to sting.
Even the aloof and arrogant Young Master Jiang couldn't escape the warm embrace of his family. He felt wronged and unworthy for his two ascensions and the two times he was hurt after saving people. It turned out that those pains were not something he was supposed to endure.
In the schemes and plans of Xi Chuang and Lian Chisu, he, Shen Jiuxu, Shen Wuke, Qingyunti, and everyone in the desolate mountain became pawns in their hands.
A seemingly insignificant move by a chess player has triggered a catastrophe on the invisible chessboard.
“Jiuxu will get better, child, don’t cry.”
From childhood, because Jiang Yu had no parents, Zhou Yongyin always felt sorry for him and indulged him in every way when raising him. However, Jiang Yu was not raised to have a personality like Tang Ling. Instead, he was well-behaved and sensible and rarely showed affection. This could be said to be the first time Zhou Yongyin had seen him vent his emotions without regard for his image.
He knew that Shen Jiuxu and Jiang Yu had known each other since they were young, and that their friendship had only grown stronger over the years. Moreover, they had withstood the gossip and rumors that the two men had become Daoist partners. He couldn't imagine how much Shen Jiuxu and Jiang Yu had sacrificed.
"It will get better, Jiang Yu. When we get back, Grandpa will kill a chicken for you to eat." Zhou Yongyin hugged Jiang Yu in his arms, patting his trembling, thin back with one hand and stroking Shen Jiuxu's cold face on the ground with the other. How could his two children have suffered so much during this time?
"Uncle Zhou."
Lu Buwen hesitated, feeling guilty about speaking at this moment, but in fact, they were the ones who caused all of this.
Showing pity to a child who has no parents, using his parents' old belongings to evoke his complete trust, only to expose in the final words that it was all just manipulation—this kind of harm is far greater than direct swords and sharp weapons.
As soon as he finished speaking, Xian Chenjian suddenly became agitated. Several disciples ran over, the one in the lead covered in sweat. "Sect Leader, something terrible has happened at the Desolate Mountain!"
Chu Jue's eyes suddenly turned to the Xian Chen Sword, which was bursting with light. Xi Chuang's gaze also focused on it. With a flick of his hand, he saw the Xian Chen Sword move towards him.
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Author's note: Have some sweets to calm your nerves, and be happy! [purple sugar][orange sugar]
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