Chapter 39 Betrayal Requires Qingning (Opening): [She hates me so much...]
The mountain path was quiet and secluded; the carriage moved forward, following the rushing waters of countless valleys.
But outside the carriage, the blue sky stretched to the horizon, and crows cawed, piercing the broken moon.
...Kuang Yunchu. Xu Qingning sat in the carriage, his blue robe slightly wrinkled and piled at his feet.
His hands were bound behind his back with the Immortal Binding Rope, and his ankles were wrapped in iron chains, putting him in the same wretched state as before.
The sound of crows entered his ears, but Xu Qingning's phoenix eyes showed confusion as he looked up.
This was Kuang Yunchu's informant. She was still following them.
"Come here," Xu Qingning called to Zhou Fuling.
Zhou Fuling probably knew that Xu Qingning had something to say, and she was no longer as impatient as before. She reined in her horse, walked up to Xu Qingning, and crossed her arms over her chest.
Xu Qingning: "Kuang Yunchu sent her trusted Elder Lü. That person is Kuang Yunchu's confidant in Jinling Mountain, and he has refined magical artifacts to kill Qiankun-level demons during the three demon transformations."
“I’m not surprised she did this,” Zhou Fuling sneered.
"So, you and she are mother and daughter? Biologically related?"
"Does it look like it? Do you think that's possible?"
Xu Qingning clenched her fists, lowered her eyes, and slowly let out a sigh of relief.
If he is her biological son, then the blood feud between him and Zhou Fuling is even more inexhaustible.
What did she do to you?
"Young Master Xu, would I hand you a knife to hurt myself? We're just exchanging information on this matter."
“Yes, this is our cooperation on this matter. We have no other relationship at other times, at most we will use each other for our own benefit. That would be perfect.” Xu Qingning said, her face pale.
[Villain's favorability -1%]
[Villain's favorability +1%]
[Villain's favorability -1%]
She hurt him so much, yet she still cares about his words? That's truly rare. Xu Qingning looked at Zhou Fuling.
[Host, why are you being so stubborn again? You care about her so much.]
[…Don't talk nonsense.]
Xu Qingning saw the dark green cloak fluttering outside.
Zhou Fuling returned to the outer room to ride her horse.
[Worldline correction...]
Just as Xu Qingning was about to speak, a system notification suddenly appeared in his ear.
Chaotic and disordered, like some kind of disrupted electric current.
He frowned.
[Host, congratulations! The villain has broken 30% of the blood calamity in Yun Ning Sect.]
[In the original timeline: Zhou Fuling single-handedly stormed the Ningzhu Tower of the Yun Ning Sect, participating in the Yun Ning Grand Competition while stealing the medicine. She was struck by seven swords and nearly died. Kuang Yunchu appeared at the opportune moment, and with the support of the sect, Zhou Fuling survived and ascended to the position of Sect Master of the Yun Ning Sect.]
However, she was forced to agree to many of Kuang Yunchu's conditions that were detrimental to her.
Your guidance yesterday helped the villain finally understand the crux of the matter.
[Current world timeline development...]
uncertain. 】
The electrical noise was chaotic, as if two voices were fighting, before gradually subsiding.
what does that mean
He must calm his mind and furrow his brows.
In the original timeline... Zhou Fuling didn't know Kuang Yunchu's identity?
Was it because he rushed to distract Zou Li that Zou Li didn't tell anyone?
After an unknown amount of time, Zhou Fuling stopped the carriage and came in again.
As before, she shared the food with Xu Qingning. It was a Qingjing cake infused with spiritual energy.
Whether it was a misperception or not, Zhou Fuling seemed to have become much more patient.
Xu Qingning ate in silence, then carefully chose when to speak:
"Tell me something. From now on, I'll help you with your journey to the Cloud Candle Tower."
Zhou Fuling looked up in surprise.
The sword cultivator sat in front of the carriage wall, clearly restrained, yet with a confident expression.
She asked, puzzled, "You're at my mercy. How can you help me?"
Xu Qingning raised her phoenix eyes, her expression icy cold: "So, it seems you know more about the power structure and policies of the various forces in the Southern Continent than I do? You don't need them."
"Xu Qingning, speak properly."
Zhou Fuling grabbed his collar.
The sword cultivator was aloof and distant, but stubbornly raised his chin.
Zhou Fuling let go.
"Tell me your problem."
"Was my mother's death related to Kuang Yunchu and the others who raised you?"
The two looked at each other.
"yes."
Within the sea of consciousness, a bell tolls.
Xu Qingning could not believe it.
It really is related.
...
That night, Xu Qingning fell into a dream.
In his dream, he seemed to have returned to 112 years ago. He was fourteen years old.
"Xiao Ning, this is your junior sister, surnamed Kuang, given name Yun Chu."
Mingliu Villa. My mother used to live here for a long time; it seemed like the brightest place in the world.
A thousand curtains hung, candlelight shone brightly. Xu Qingning entered the council hall.
The mother sat upright on a high seat, with Kuang Yunchu standing beside her.
Kuang Yunchu, dressed in a blue robe, was very reserved and said with his head bowed, "Young Master Qingning."
The mother was displeased: "Why are you calling me 'Young Master'? Call me 'Junior Brother'!" The mother grabbed Xu Qingning's hand, "Qingning, this is Senior Sister Yun Chu. Senior Sister's father is my close friend Kuang Xia, who also comes from the Han Party."
Kuang Yunchu wept uncontrollably.
Cold Party...
As a child, Xu Qingning naturally knew about the Han Party.
The term "Han Party" refers to cultivators from the Han ethnic group.
In contrast to aristocratic families, they come from small clans or ordinary households.
Once upon a time, a thousand years ago, the immortal Liang Huo established a two-realm universal examination. Regardless of birth, as long as one had talent, both the common and noble families could rise to high positions.
However, Zou Lanci abolished the general examination and established a system of recommendation for noble families and high-ranking individuals, which provoked resistance from cultivators from humble backgrounds.
Kuang Yunchu's mother, Kuang Xia, was one of the leaders of the Han Party and died tragically in Zhongzhou.
The Western Continent, where my mother was born, was not ruled by any aristocratic clans. It was only natural that my mother would protect Kuang Yunchu.
Kuang Yunchu knelt down.
"Thank you, Master! If it weren't for you... I'm afraid I would have been killed long ago. In the future, I'm willing to give my life for you."
However, time flies, and the five years in the dream have passed in the blink of an eye.
West Continent collapsed.
My mother died tragically at the hands of a demon. The Han faction disbanded.
Everyone said that Kuang Yunchu betrayed his mother. Xu Qingning didn't believe it.
Until his mother's funeral, his father, who had always had a bad relationship with his mother, had an extra person standing beside him: Kuang Yunchu, dressed in white mourning clothes, pale and haggard.
He must be held accountable.
The father was furious:
"Xu Qingning, show some respect to your stepmother!"
Xu Qingning suddenly became clear-headed.
The dim starlight fell into my eyes.
He had never understood why Kuang Yunchu acted this way. Only later did he realize that Kuang Yunchu's ambitions were far from small.
However, Kuang Yunchu turned out to be Zhou Fuling's adoptive mother...
Two years after her mother's death, Xu Qingning fell into the Tianjue Abyss under Kuang Yunchu's scheme and met Zhou Fuling.
Why didn't Zhou Fuling kill him to silence him? Instead, she imprisoned him for two years.
From Kuang Yunchu's perspective, killing him would definitely be the most profitable move. Did something go wrong?
And the death of his mother...
Xu Qingning always thought that Kuang Yunchu betrayed her mother because she was dissatisfied after becoming her disciple, but if she was Zhou Fuling's adoptive mother, then she must have been in contact with Zou Lanci before becoming a disciple of Mingliu Manor.
Xu Qingning gritted his teeth.
Was all of this planned out so early?
...
Xu Qingning received another new message from the system.
However, he already knew this information.
[New information: The villain 'Wu' was raised by Zou Lanci, Ning Tingyue, Kuang Yunchu, and others; he is a tool for murder.]
The system also reminded me: [Host, it's time to win over Zhou Fuling.]
Xu Qingning tilted her head: "She hates me so much, and doesn't trust me at all. How can I win her over?"
The system thought for a while.
[So, if you don't do anything and don't initiate arguments, her affection level might increase on its own. After all... you later became the villain's only lover, so there's probably something special about you that the villain can't forget.]
But don't deliberately start arguments with the villains.
only.
Xu Qingning remained motionless.
After a long while, he finally turned his head away.
As night fell, Zhou Fuling fed Xu Qingning another pill that would dissipate his internal energy.
Xu Qingning was already used to it and didn't resist, but he told her some information from the journey. According to his guess, Zhou Fuling and Kuang Yunchu must have agreed to split up and meet at Yunzhu Tower. He could also guess how she would get there.
Zhou Fuling's hand paused:
Why did you tell me this on your own initiative?
Xu Qingning remained silent for a moment.
Why do you care about this?
Why do you ask?
"And why do you ask?"
“…” Zhou Fuling sneered, impatiently saying, “Xu Qingning, how long are you going to keep arguing with me like this?!”
"Fine. Since you insist on an answer, the answer is... I hate you."
Zhou Fuling: "..."
Both she and Xu Qingning fell silent.
Xu Qingning's back was straight as a pine tree, and his eyebrows and eyes were indifferent.
He met her gaze for a moment, then pursed his lips and turned his head slightly away.
The sword cultivator was as aloof as an immortal, with a profile as beautiful as jade.
After a long silence, Zhou Fuling left with her hands behind her back.
[Villain's favorability +3%]
Xu Qingning sat there, silent for a long time.
The system was surprised.
Why does the villain's favorability rating increase instead of decrease when you tell her you hate her? Isn't that like using a super move right in front of her?!
Xu Qingning pursed her lips, not answering the system.
Her chest rose and fell slightly.
My thoughts were somewhat confused.
He felt some regret.
Why bother saying these things? It only adds to your troubles.
For the sake of the guide, I can't say anything more.
...
About an hour later, a cold wind blew outside the carriage, accompanied by the distant sound of a sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument).
Xu Qingning suddenly looked up.
He had heard that sound before.
It was the command to assemble the Yunyi Division, the first unit of Yun Ning. Ning Chenghan and Ning Chaoxue were both from this division.
Are the people from the first movie here?
Xu Qingning also observed the terrain along the way. Yun Ning was divided into four parts: the first part, Yun Yi, was located in the far north, and the fourth part, Yun Si, was located in the far south.
Here, the ancient hills and deep forests are filled with osmanthus trees, indicating that we have reached the boundary between the second part, Yun Er, and the first part, Yun Yi.
Fifty li further north, you will reach the Cloud Candle Pagoda.
A voice boomed: "Those in the mountains, come out immediately and submit to Yun Yi's questioning! Otherwise, you will be considered the second group of traitors and will be killed without mercy!"
Then came screams of agony, and smoke exploded in the sky, only to be dispersed by the flames.
Xu Qingning was worried about Zhou Fuling's departure and offered some advice.
"Don't go. Something's not right."
"That smoke is Thunder Sound Sand, used for communication, but this communication smoke is not used by the second division of Yun Ning Sect; it is also used by rogue cultivators in the Southern Continent."
Zhou Fuling: "You mean, they didn't just target the people from the second part?"
Xu Qingning nodded.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Fuling's expression became more serious.
She got into the car, grabbed Xu Qingning's chin, and then force-fed him a sleeping pill.
Xu Qingning had no idea what she was thinking. He reminded her, and she forced the medicine on her again.
He kicked her a few times, and she pinned his legs down before he was forced to take the medicine.
Xu Qingning lost consciousness while still angry.
But when Xu Qingning woke up, his anger subsided. The surroundings were almost completely dark, but there was nothing obstructing his view. He groped around for a moment, his fingers touching the cold, hard rocks.
The sounds echoed all around him, making him feel as if he were sitting in a cave passage.
As I gradually adjusted to the darkness, faint lights began to appear from afar.
When he looked up again, Zhou Fuling was sitting beside him, her body reeking of blood.
Xu Qingning frowned.
Did she fight the first one?
what happens?
Noticing that Xu Qingning had woken up, Zhou Fuling turned around and pressed her finger to his lips.
Although there is a technique for keeping quiet, it also serves as a reminder that one must remain still and not make any noise.
Xu Qingning turned her head away and shook off her fingers.
But he quietly leaned against the mountain wall, while his peripheral vision continued to observe his surroundings.
The mountain is rugged, and judging from the texture of the rocks and soil, it hasn't changed much from before; it seems to be still on the same mountain.
In the distance, besides the firelight, dim moonlight streamed through the cracks in the rocks. He had been unconscious for two hours; it was already late at night.
Xu Qingning quickly realized the troublesome situation.
Why... is there so many array formations in this cave?
This formation must have been seen by Qingning before; it consists of six layers, each guarded by a person. In past battles between the Han Party and the Shi Party, the Shi Party used this method of attrition warfare to wipe out Han Party experts.
A net stretches as far as the eye can see, waiting to be caught.
Xu Qingning mouthed the question to Zhou Fuling silently: "How did you attract so many people? And how did you manage to be caught in such a vicious trap?"
Zhou Fuling glared at him impatiently and mouthed, "It has nothing to do with me. Killing innocent people and claiming credit for it."
Xu Qingning remained silent.
...killing innocent people to claim credit refers to the indiscriminate killing of disaster victims and the false reporting of military achievements.
He had indeed heard of many cultivators in the Southern Continent acting in this way.
That means it wasn't directed at Zhou Fuling.
Just then, there was a commotion outside the passageway.
Looking through the cracks in the mountain wall, one could see a dozen or so ordinary people in blue robes and wandering cultivators sitting in the grotto outside the passageway.
Zhou Fuling was hiding here, clearly not wanting these people to discover them.
Xu Qingning raised her eyes.
Upon seeing their shapes, his pupils contracted.
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