But to everyone's surprise, the next second the boy's face softened, and his lips curled up slightly as he spoke.
"Greetings, Senior Brother..."
Little Zhuque timidly bowed to Xiao Leng Wuxin for a whole week, but as soon as she raised her head, she saw him chuckle.
"Are you afraid of me? Don't worry, I would never bully a girl. I would never allow my fellow disciples to bully a girl either."
As Leng Wuxin spoke, he reached out and gently patted Zhuque's shoulder. He originally intended to use this to close the distance between them and make her less nervous, but to his surprise, the moment he touched the little girl's shoulder, he could still clearly feel her tremble slightly.
Leng Wuxin didn't say anything more. He just smiled faintly, then left with the words, "If you need anything, you can ask me for help," and walked away gracefully.
From then on, the bond between fellow disciples began. Little Vermilion Bird gained a senior brother who could protect her in every way, while Leng Wuxin gained a little junior sister who followed him around like a shadow.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the half-grown blonde girl has grown into a bright young woman, and the boy has become even more serious and unsmiling.
Only when facing the Vermilion Bird does Leng Wuxin show a bit more humanity.
Some even joked that the Hidden Guard Sect might become a legendary tale of fellow disciples turning into husband and wife because of these two.
However, the two of them just laughed it off.
Only they themselves understand that the bond of companionship and support they have built over so many years cannot be simply explained by romantic love between a man and a woman.
When these long-forgotten events were suddenly brought up, a gentle and nostalgic look involuntarily appeared on Zhuque's face.
Li Chang'an was deeply moved by what he heard, and even felt a slight resonance in his heart.
Perhaps she is the one who understands the kind of human emotions that Suzaku is talking about the most.
Because at that time, didn't I also have a companion who was even closer than family?
Unfortunately, the two most sincere relationships in this world both ended up contrary to expectations.
Fortunately, Li Chang'an felt that he was much luckier than Zhuque.
Although it was still a regret, fortunately, all my memories of that relationship were beautiful, without hatred or betrayal, and without the sorrow of reuniting years later only to find that we were strangers again.
The only regret is that I may never see that person again in this lifetime.
Thinking of this, Li Chang'an couldn't help but sigh softly, and suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.
In that instant, she even wished she could erase the memory, because something so beautiful makes one willing to give it up rather than have any regrets.
"And then what happened?"
Just then, Cangyun suddenly spoke.
At this moment, the ripples on his face were gone, and upon closer examination, one could almost hear a faint sadness in his tone.
"Later... it ceased to exist."
Zhuque managed a bitter smile, but her eyes reddened before she could even finish.
The story of Zhuque and Leng Wuxin ended long ago.
Moreover, the ending was fragmented.
At that time, the boy's temperament became increasingly reckless and arrogant.
He enjoys studying all things new and interesting, and he has his own unique insights into them, including those aspects that are not allowed for disciples of the Hidden Guard Sect.
The elders in the sect, including their sect leader, had repeatedly warned the young man that he must use his rare intelligence to study the righteous path.
Although the boy verbally agreed, he secretly continued to do as he pleased.
As the junior sister with the best relationship among her fellow disciples, Zhuque had repeatedly advised her senior brother not to indulge in things that their master and the others disliked.
But each time, the boy swore that he was just playing around and assured that he would never be discovered.
Moreover, besides himself, only his most trusted junior sister knew these secrets.
But the truth will eventually come out.
That day was the darkest time in Suzaku's memory, apart from the calamity he experienced in his childhood.
Perhaps that day was the darkest time of Leng Wuxin's life.
The sect leader of the Hidden Guard Sect had personally caught the little Gu worm that Leng Wuxin was raising during the day and punished him for it. Then, that very night, he died suddenly while practicing his martial arts and adjusting his breathing.
The elders of the sect finally discovered the cause of the sect leader's death—they found a Gu worm frantically gnawing at the deceased's Du meridian in the corpse.
Now, all suspicions pointed to Leng Wuxin.
Everyone knows that this rebellious senior disciple of the Hidden Guard Sect is obsessed with witchcraft, poison, and all sorts of other unorthodox and evil arts.
Everyone knows that because of this, he is often reprimanded or even punished by his master and other senior disciples.
"Master Chang died a terrible death! This Leng Wuxin is truly heartless. He dared to kill his master for such a thing today. Who knows if he has the same intentions towards the senior disciples..."
The person who was weeping bitterly at the head of the group was none other than Fang Buzheng, the second disciple of the Hidden Guard Sect, who had been at odds with Leng Wuxin since childhood.
Upon hearing this, the elders in the sect were all on high alert, and they didn't even notice that although Fang Buzheng was crying and sniffling fiercely while saying those words, his eyes were gleaming with a smug light.
At that time, only Leng Wuxin herself knew how wronged she truly was.
As the saying goes, when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. At that time, apart from Zhuque, no one dared to plead for him.
Leng Wuxin vehemently denied that he had poisoned his master.
But his defense was too weak. Not only did all the evidence point to him, but there was also Fang Buzheng who kept fanning the flames.
The final outcome was predictable.
After unanimous discussion among the senior members of the sect, Leng Wuxin was stripped of all his cultivation and expelled from the sect.
Before that, Suzaku cried and begged him to bow down and admit his mistake to the elders. Even if he hadn't done anything wrong, he could at least temporarily submit and ask for forgiveness.
"One day, the truth will definitely come out! Senior brother..."
Zhuque was already sobbing uncontrollably.
"It's no use. Since they've already decided it was me, what difference does it make even if the truth proves me innocent? In their hearts, won't they also think that the truth was something I deliberately fabricated to clear my name?"
At this moment, only an endless coldness remained on Leng Wuxin's face.
After a moment, he continued, "My master has shown me great kindness, and now that he has passed away so mysteriously, it is my inescapable responsibility as his eldest disciple. Today, I, Leng Wuxin, will be buried with him..."
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