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Chapter Twenty-One: Goal
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  “Do not worry, even if it is death, the one to die will be me, and not your Xia Family.”


  When returning to the carriage, Wen Guanyue said coldly to the Xia family members next to the carriage. “This is a matter between me and the Ba Mountain Sword Field, and has nothing to do with you.”


  “Understood,” simply said the person in charge for the Xia Family. He knew the present Xia Family was just a residence for Wen Guanyue right now. What was in front of Ding Ning and Ba Mountain Sword Field was not the private armies of the Nanquan Commanderies, not the forces that the Xia Family possessed, but a proper reason.

  They needed a reason.

  This was not just the problem of whether the remnant armies led by Consort Zhao Xiang and Xiang Yan could pass through Nanquan Commanderies. This was a problem if some matters were not dealt with, did Ding Ning and the Ba Mountain Sword Field qualify to lead the resistance against Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu.

  **

  “No one can be alone.”


  In the moonlit night, a woman said softly to the old person behind her.

  “Senior Sect Brother has his opinions, but the Shang Family has other people, he cannot completely represent our Shang Family.”


  This woman was dressed in red robes, and spoke gently, her soft voice containing sorrow and helplessness.

  She was on a small boat. The small boat was anchored at a wild wharf with other small boats which mostly contained the rich family members who were fleeing from the Chu capital during the war.

  The Nine Death Silkworm was reborn. That person and Ba Mountain Sword Field had publicly appeared in the Nanquan Commanderies in such a manner. The news passed so quickly that even a wharf like this learned what was happening in the Nanquan Commanderies at this moment.

  Discussing the Shang Family and using “our Shang Family” was naturally the eldest miss of the Shang Family who had once hid in the Fish Market.

  Hearing her words, the old servant behind her sighed, and started to row the boat. The small boat quickly moved on the black water, moving before the sun came out, and reached a wharf very close to the Xia Family.

  The Nanquan Commanderies had more trouble than at any other time. The arrival of such a boat naturally could not escape the attention of the Xia Family.

  Sensing the faint presences of cultivators around the wharf in the darkness before sunrise, the eldest miss of the Shang Family said in her usual gentle tone, “Wen Guanyue is my senior sect brother, my surname is Shang, I want to meet him.”


  Urgent inhales sounded in the darkness followed by the sound of the air breaking. After a dozen breaths, a Xia Family butler came with a carriage to the wharf and respectfully invited her onto the carriage.

  The eldest miss of the Shang Family picked up the zither she kept by her side and boarded the carriage together with the old servant.

  The carriage quickly entered the Xia Family compound, and stopped by the silent pond filled with blooming lotus flowers. There was a man dressed in indigo robes standing by the pond.

  “Eldest Miss.”


  He bowed slightly, his expression like usual, but when he bowed, the lotus flowers moved in the breeze and rustled.

  “Senior Sect Brother.” The eldest miss of the Shang Family bowed gracefully. “I did not know you were alive.”


  “I was not in Changling, but I could occasionally hear news of you. I heard that you seemed to have gone overseas, and did not expect you to come here, and so quickly.” Wen Guanyue stood with his hands behind his back, his tone full of emotion.

  The eldest miss of the Shang Family said in a measured pace, “In such a world, it is impossible to stay out of things in a quiet place. I left the Fish Market, going along the river to the ocean, wanting to leave behind the conflict. But I coincidentally discovered the traces of the Nether Floats, felt that something was wrong, and when I came to the Chu, I was too late to give a warning before the Chu capital was taken.”


  “You managed to coincidentally find the traces of the Nether Floats even when going away overseas, but it is no wonder. Teacher had been the only cultivator killed in the ghostly path back in Changling. Junior Sect Sister, you received his true teaching, and it is nothing for you to discover the tracks of the fleet.” Wen Guanyue nodded.

  The eldest miss of the Shang Family looked at his bright eyes in the darkness, thought for a moment, and said slowly and softly, “Each person should have a chance to correct their mistakes. Also, these mistakes were because he trusted the wrong person.”


  “We finally come to the true topic.” Wen Guanyue took a deep breath, looked at her and said, “So this is your goal in coming to meet me.”


  “Our Shang Family matter caused a split between him and Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu. I was able to survive in Changling, living long term in Changling, not because of Zheng Xiu’s kindness. It must have been because of an agreement between him and some old people of Changling. He owes the Shang Family an explanation, but I owe him a life.” The eldest miss of the Shang Family nodded and said, “You do not have to forgive him, but I do not want you to block him at this time.”


  “This is your goal, but my goal is not to block him.” Wen Guanyue suddenly smiled. His smile came from his heart, but it was exceptionally cold.

  The eldest miss of the Shang Family frowned slightly, and the old servant behind her suddenly had a bad feeling.

  “My goal is you, Junior Sect Sister.”


  Wen Guanyue looked deeply at her, smiled sincerely and said emotionally. “In reality, much of what you say is correct. Including your survival in Changling was because of an agreement between him and some people in Changling. Even you do not know your life was one of the bargaining chips to force him to enter Changling.”


  “Keeping you was to keep a bargaining chip, just in case the Nine Death Silkworm appeared again…… Now, the Nine Death Silkworm has appeared, and it is him reborn. This way, Junior Sect Sister has a more important meaning. You are one of the chips used against him back then, I do not know what kind of use you will have now?”


  Wen Guanyue’s voice grew gentler. “You are too innocent. Have you ever thought, everyone in the Shang Family died, so why was I able to survive?”


  “You ……”


  The old servant with the eldest miss of the Shang Family shouted.

  He wanted to say “you are Zheng Xiu’s person.” But when he said the first word, he sensed a presence so cold it made his blood freeze. He suddenly turned around.

  A man in black robes appeared out of the darkness. There were many white bone adornments hanging from his black robes.

  “Qi Siren.”


  The eldest miss of the Shang Family shouted this cultivator’s name and her heart sank.

  “Miss, quick, leave.”


  Dozens of black bamboo grew from around her and the old servant, forming a wood, and rising like they were charging into the sky.

  “Since you have come, can you leave?”


  The black-robed man just shook his head in scorn, pulled a while bone hanging from his waist and threw it on the ground.

  There was a soft sound. Immediately, cracks formed on the white bone, pale white flames appearing through the cracks and silently spreading around the world. The black energy of the black bamboo forest quickly twisted, being pulled away in strands and consumed by the white energy flames.

  The figures of the old servant and the eldest miss of the Shang Family appeared. Blood seeped out of the lips of the old servant.

  Volume 6 21 - Master Zi

  When the words were said, the world here seemed to abruptly quieten. Even Zhangsun Qianxue stopped breathing for a while.

  The words echoed in Ding Ning’s mind. Of course he understood the meaning of the words, and his face turned pale. He looked at the people holding the lanterns from the carriages around Sima Cuo. He finally understood why the presence of the train of carriages was so odd. Why, while these carriage drivers and attendants were so far from grandmaster level, they were so unafraid and possessed a calm presence.

  Because these people came from the imperial guards of the palace. That presence was the so-called imperial presence they gained from following the emperor. This train of carriages was the imperial train.

  A ripple appeared in the Donghu monk’s mind as well. He seemed to sense something, and looked to the side nearby.

  There was a desolate hill there. The attendants and carriages of the emperor had come here, but Emperor Yuanwu was not here, but on that hill.

  In the forest on that hill, there was an ordinary stone house, but at this time, it was neatly decorated. Emperor Yuanwu, dressed in ordinary cloth robes, was drinking tea. There was a young palace attendant standing in front of him, lifting a teapot from a small red clay stove to power tea for him.

  When the Donghu monk was looking towards this hill, he had just lifted the cup. But in the next moment, as he bowed his head to drink, the teacup slowly fell in front of him. Many crystal ripples appeared in the space between him and the Donghu monk. His figure disappeared from his spot, passing through the ripples and appearing at the tail of the train of carriages.

  His figure seemed to suddenly add something to a quiet scene. He filled the sight, and gave people the uncomfortable feeling he was not real.

  When his body stopped, a terrifying roar finally erupted through the air behind him and the hill. It was like a long city wall that collapsed in sections. This was a state that was hard to understand, or at least, this was a state that all of the realm seven cultivators in the world could not understand at this time. Even the primal energies of the universe that flowed off his body were like rays of dazzling light, so much that people could not look straight at him in the face.

  Ding Ning narrowed his eyes. He looked deeply at this man who appeared at the tail of the train of carriages, the Emperor of the Qin. Yuanwu’s face had not changed compared to more than a decade ago. Time had not seemed to leave any traces on him.

  Ding Ning’s heart sank deeper in his body. But strangely, there was no fury or negative emotions. He did not expect to meet Yuanwu at this time and place.

  Zhangsun Qianxue’s hands slowly clenched together. Her body was much colder than the surrounding wind and snow. But her hands could not help but break out in a cold sweat.

  She looked at Yuanwu who was on the carriage. His face and figure was very average. Many years ago, she felt that everything about Yuanwu was ordinary, but this seemingly ordinary person made it to the peak of the world.

  During the Deer Mountain Conference, when the grandmasters of the world gathered, Yuanwu had been wary of many things, and hid his presence. But when he flattened a mountain with a blow, and revealed his cultivation, it was like the world was under his feet and he was looking down at her, the Donghu monk and Ding Ning.

  He glanced at the Donghu monk, and said, “You are not a match for me, how about you work for this Lonely One?”


  His voice was very average, but full of authority and very lofty, that people would feel if he said such a thing, the Donghu monk would not object at all and obey. Because he was the strongest and most powerful emperor of the time. Even if he lost this war, and the land of many commanderies, the Qin Dynasty he possessed held twice more land than other dynasties.

  On the hill, Ye Xiao’s breathing became slightly disturbed. He had not met Yuanwu officially for a long time. And Yuanwu’s strength right now created indescribable pressure on him.

  But the Donghu monk shook his head, looked at Yuanwu and said, “You are injured.”


  Sima Cuo was shocked. Many people in the train were shocked.

  Starting from the end of the Deer Mountain Conference, the cultivators of many dynasties had speculated many times that Emperor Yuanwu had been injured during the Deer Mountain Conference. But those were just speculations, and it was completely different from this powerful Donghu monk stating it.

  Yuanwu’s eyebrows rose slightly. There was no ferocity on his face. He nodded casually. “This cannot be hidden from you, but you are still not a match for this Lonely One.”


  The Donghu monk considered and then said, “That may not be the case.”


  Emperor Yuanwu did not speak more. He glanced at the Donghu monk and there was a soft sound in the air. His gaze seemed to become two bright swords that stabbed at the Donghu monk’s face.

  The Donghu monk remained standing motionlessly, like a tree that had died for a thousand years. Even the wood staff he held did not move. Two bright sword lights suddenly disappeared a foot away from him.

  But after the two sword lights disappeared, the Donghu monk raised his foot and took a step forward. He raised the wood staff he was holding. There was a dull bang. In the void in front of him, a terrifying force that collided with the wood staff in his hand creating a deep loud sound like that of an invisible bell.

  There was no pause. His wood staff then attacked. More than a hundred feet away, Emperor Yuanwu disappeared from the carriage, turning into an afterimage, while his true body appeared behind the monk.

  Emperor Yuanwu’s true body gripped a golden yellow long sword that he thrust at the Donghu monk’s back. The energy at the tip of his sword split apart, forming a crystal flower in the air. The shining bright yellow light did not even have time to bloom. The speed of this sword surpassed the limits of a realm seven grandmaster’s understanding. This was just as strong as the blow that killed Yan Ying back at the Deer Mountain Conference.

  But the wood staff of the Donghu monk still appeared at the perfect position and tapped on the blade.

  At this moment, it was like Emperor Yuanwu was split in two. He was thrusting a sword at the Donghu monk from both the front and the back. But this Donghu monk seemed to have finished two things at the same time, first time blocking Emperor Yuanwu’s attack from the front and then fending him off from the back.

  Enormous dust waves surged from in front and behind the Donghu monk, accompanied by countless tangible bright yellow lines of light. The figures of Emperor Yuanwu on the carriage and behind the Donghu monk suddenly collapsed, like a dream, but then, Emperor Yuanwu’s true figure returned to the carriage. His brows were furrowed, his eyes flashing. During such a battle, he was thinking deeply about a very important question.

  “It was not expected that you are already so strong.” When most people present had yet to recover from their shock, he looked firmly at the Donghu monk and took a deep breath. “You cannot be about as fast as this Lonely One, your speed comes from your directness, that you can turn the surrounding into your world. In such a cramped world, you have the speed to keep up with this Lonely One. But you cannot possess such understanding of the sword…… not even this Lonely One. Only one person could use such a sword.”


  “Then is it because of you?”


  Emperor Yuanwu’s gaze landed on Ding Ning. His eyes were probing and puzzled. “You got his Nine Death Silkworm method, but how did you inherit his understanding of the sword?”


  Ding Ning did not answer his questions. He nodded solemnly at the Donghu monk in front of him. Then he pointed with his finger. Countless thin lifebond sword energies shot out of his fingers and left behind multiple light tracks.

  Many people could not understand his movements right now, but the several grandmasters present stopped breathing. They sensed a profound and powerful sword path.

  This was a sword move.

  The Donghu monk’s yellowed eyes grew bright. In his senses, these tracks of light were a sword move only he could comprehend in this moment. This sword move was perfectly fitting with the method he cultivated and his state at this time. It even had a restraining effect on Yuanwu’s sword essence. He knew that because of Emperor Yuanwu coming in person, their opponent was too strong for them. So Ding Ning could not keep anything back, and must do all he could to find a chance to win.

  “Corrosion of Heaven!”


  Emperor Yuanwu’s pupils contracted. He shouted the name of this sword. But even he only felt a part of this sword essence, and just knew the fame of this move.

  Volume 7 21

  “In other words, so many of us from the Zhao Sword Furnace blamed him needlessly.” Zhao Ce sighed softly. “However, he did not end up well. Worse than my master. My master did not trust people, but he trusted the wrong person.”


  Shi Changluo looked noncommittally at him and did not say anything. The battle with Wang Jingmeng changed the trajectory of his life. If there was no such person as Wang Jingmeng in this world, perhaps he would be the first person in the world, the sword idiot of the Ba Mountain Sword Field, and the most powerful genius.

  Even though he had failed to assassinate Wang Jingmeng, he had suffered too much damage and slowed down his progress, which had a great impact on his cultivation throughout his life, but it was his own choice. He did not have much hatred towards the man.

  Zhao Ce thought for a moment and then asked seriously, “Then, fairly speaking, who did you feel would have won between my master and him?”


  Shi Changluo shook his head. “In truth, I think your master. Wang Jingmeng could defeat any attack, could skillfully use any attack, and any move would turn from rubbish to magic in his hands. His sword moves were seemingly made by the heavens, and all the flows of energy in their correct path. But even the most perfect sword moves will be able to be tracked. Your master sometimes used his intuition of the body when attacking, the natural reaction of a swordsman and his energies. But no one can conclude about something like this, one’s thoughts does not mean the result. One swordsman will experience many battles in life. The Wang Jingmeng who fought the three dynasties was different from the Wang Jingmeng who fought to the death in Changling. Think of how old your master was then, and how long Wang Jingmeng had cultivated. If there were ten more years, who would win?”


  “You are right, us Zhao Sword Furnace people are too obsessed with this.” Zhao Ce nodded. He lifted his sword across his chest and said to Shi Changluo, “Please.”


  When he said this, it meant the true battle had started. A vast and terrifying heat that had been surging in the air disappeared back into his body and sword.

  The fire on his sword that had been shining with dazzling light disappeared. The sword turned back to ordinary metal. But he seemed to have consumed all the flames, and his skin gave off a red jade-like sheen. His eyes were the most terrifying, they had turned completely red, crystal clear like rubies, filled with an obsessive and vicious air……

  There was no humanity, just a demon nature. In the world of cultivators, if a cultivator fell into a world made from their sword essence, and their mind was trapped, they would go mad. This was a terrifying thing for the cultivator.

  But Zhao Ce’s first move was to go berserk. Before his sword essence actually attacked, the world around him and Shi Changluo was filled with his demonic killing intent.

  Ordinary cultivators saw in the empty air, large blooms of gray dust started to fall, like gray snow.

  A black ripple spread from Shi Changluo’s sword, and then turned to a wave, slamming on the surrounding space. He started to draw his sword. There was nothing in his hand, but his right hand moved deep from his chest height. A black hilt appeared in his right hand, and a ghostly and dense flame appeared at his chest.

  The sound of the siege quieted. From a certain point of view, this was another battle between the Zhao Sword Furnace, and the Ba Mountain Sword Field. All the cultivators in and out of the city knew that the battle between these two people had started in the space.

  A strange lifebond presence expanded as Shi Changluo drew his sword. Lifebond energy kept on surging out of his chest, and then turned to a sword in his hand. He seemed to be pulling a pitch black out of his body. His movement was very slow.

  The scene right now was very odd. It looked like one person was focused on drawing the sword, and the other was quietly going mad. But more and more gray dust fell down in the air.

  Finally, the pinch black sword in Shi Changluo’s hand showed its tip. He had finished drawing his sword. The moment the sword tip left his body, it pulled out hundreds of black lines, and then the shadow of a person was drawn out of his body by these black lines. With this sword, he seemed to have drawn out his soul.

  All of the gray dust falling through the air and the gray dust on the ground danced madly, surging at Zhao Ce. The gray dust gathered up like a shell, covering him, and turning him to a gray statue. But in the next moment, the eyes of the statue started to burn, showing a pair of blood red eyes.

  This statue seemed to be mad.

  A cracking sound started from the sword that Zhao Ce held. Dust flew away from the cracks of the sword’s gray shell, and cut off the cultivators’ perception.

  Everyone could clearly see that Zhao Ce was standing there, and the shell was cracking and burning, but no one could sense him. First was going mad, and then was to cut off consciousness. This was like the ultimate sword essence of the Spirit Void Sword Sect.

  Shi Changluo could not feel Zhao Ce in his consciousness, but he was not affected at all. He knew that his previous attack could not have defeated Zhao Ce completely, and right now, what Zhao Ce was showing was not his strongest.

  The black sword in his hand made a soft sound. Many black human-shaped energies surged out. A black dot of light suddenly appeared in front of Zhao Ce and then formed a black bamboo stalk.

  A strange power grew with the bamboo, attacking relentlessly at the space where Zhao Ce was in. Crystal light sprayed out like many mirrors were cracking at the same time.

  Zhao Ce’s figure completely disappeared.

  In the next moment, when he appeared back in everybody’s sight, he was less than seventy feet away from Shi Changluo.

  The mad light in his eyes had disappeared, but his body and sword burned like never before, exploding out. Then he savagely slashed down, the flames shooting up and forming a true furnace around his body. Then the fire furnace seemed to flow off his sword like a drop of water, the space shaking and enveloping Shi Changluo!

  The pitch black sword in Shi Changluo’s hands disappeared. He held up his palm, a fine wisp of smoke dancing where the black lifebond sword had disappeared. He was split in half into black and white. On his left side, he was so black his features could not be seen. But on his right, he was dazzling, shining with light. A terrifying power formed into a line, about to cut this furnace apart!

  Zhao Ce frowned deeply. He did not know where Shi Changluo had gotten this ghostly and Yin method that had merged with the Ba Mountain Sword Field’s sword manual. The power was so strange he could not measure it at all.

  The moment before the furnace was broken, he just felt an invisible whirlpool appear in front of him. This invisible whirlpool contained two different powers, the extreme Yang and the extreme Yin. Of them, some of the power even came from his sword. He could not defeat Shi Changluo’s attack. He was even sure, at any moment before today, facing Shi Changluo like this, he could not win at all.

  But today, he did not think so.

  Because just after he had slashed his sword, he seemed to have been on the scene, and caught some of the verve that his master had back then. He had no stray thoughts in his mind, just simply slashed his sword again.

  The fire red sword swept the air in front of him and a red sword mark emerged.

  Volume 5 21 - The Head of the Dragon

  Bai Shanshui and Zhao Si exchanged a look but did not speak. They both knew, just like what Zheng Xiu did tonight, many things would not stop once they started. Since Lin Zhujiu thought they were trustworthy and started to tell them some history, and things to notice when being enemies with Zheng Xiu and Yuanwu, he would not stop and just continue talking.

  “Before Yuanwu’s ascension, he killed so many people and burned so many books, but not just to wipe out Wang Jingmeng’s existence. Many people know of Zheng Xiu’s cruelty, but still underestimate it.”


  Lin Zhujiu sneered and continued like they imagined.

  “One of the reasons he had to go to Changling was because of Yangshan Commandery. He was born in Yangshan Commandery. After the Changling reformation started, Zheng Xiu sent him a letter. The contents said if he did not go to Changling, she would order the army to massacre Yangshan Commandery, the thirteen cities of the commandery without sparing the children and women. In order to make him believe her determination, she massacred one city. The army that did so is the present God Killing Army.”


  “That is Jiaowei City?” Zhao Si’s breathing started to stutter. “So it was not the Chu who massacred the city?”


  “The God Killing Army killed that Chu Army which was forced to take on the blame.” Lin Zhujiu said disdainfully. “Even though he followed the agreement and went to Changling, dying in battle, she still gave Yangshan Commandery to Chu. Emperor of Chu received this benefit for nothing so he said nothing and let that Chu army take the blame.”


  Bai Shanshui’s expression became uglier. “So the destruction of the Ba Mountain Sword Field was due to similar tactics?”


  “That is not right.” Lin Zhujiu grew silent and said, “At the time, Ba Mountain had differences. It had nothing to do with the betrayal of a few people.”


  “Yan Xinlan thought that his death was to end this matter. She decided to follow his last intentions, and did not want to damage this thing that we used so many times and sacrifices to make. Some of us did not want to fulfill that.”


  “This is us making different choices, like some people in Changling now. Some people have decided to sacrifice the individual for the greater whole. They want to see an unprecedented dynasty be created, to conquer the world and stop war from occurring again. That is that person’s dream …… yet many people find it difficult.”


  “We were a group of dragons without a head, and not as cruel as Zheng Xiu.” Lin Zhujiu said after a long silence, “He was not just the symbol of Ba Mountain Sword Field’s invincibility, even more importantly, he was the head of the dragon. No one had thought that we would lose him first …… In conclusion, the strongest Ba Mountain Sword Field went into chaos like this.”


  “Actually, there was no chance. If there was a chance, I wanted to see him before his death and listen to his last wishes. His wishes towards the entire world and towards Zheng Xiu and Yuanwu. Should we hand over the world to Zheng Xiu and Yuanwu, and have them complete what we wanted to do, build an unprecedented dynasty, or something else?”


  No one spoke.

  Each person’s thoughts and conduct was different. Some people and matters may look very stupid in the views of others, but were still worthy of admiration. Even more importantly, Lin Zhujiu’s assumption could not hold. They could not go back to the time of that person’s death and appear at his side.

  Maybe for that person, he had a difficult choice then, especially when he realized he could not control everything. He could not make choices for other people.

  “These years, I have lived well in the Great Floating Water Prison. At least I could hear, but not do many things.” Lin Zhujiu’s voice broke the deathly silence. “So now, I am unable to decide what to do next. Since the Nine Death Silkworm was able to flawlessly plan and rescue me, I want to listen to his opinion and his ideas about the world.”


  Lin Zhujiu looked up, his gaze scanning Bai Shanshui and the other. He slowly smiled. “You are all dragons who have crossed the river. To have you all gather here …… he is the head of the dragons.”


  The river grew silent again.

  Lin Zhujiu’s words contained too much information, too much of the past, the present, and the future matters. But thinking of that youth who had accomplished something incredible, Bai Shanshui and Zhao Si felt that Lin Zhujiu’s words were correct.

  “There is something worth being thankful …… some people of the Ba Mountain Sword Field may not agree with my thoughts, just like back then. But they will have positive feelings towards the Nine Death Silkworm. At least, they will not be enemies,” Lin Zhujiu said softly with some emotion and contentment.

  “But after today, we will be truly lonely ghosts to Changling.”


  At this time, a gentle and quiet voice sounded on the broad water. A black boat, accompanied by black mist, appeared silently on the water not far from their small boat. A hunchbacked old man held a bamboo staff. A woman with a zither sat behind her and in the cabin was a young man.

  “Young people recover quickly.” Lin Zhujiu looked at the young man and could not help smiling.

  Bai Shanshui looked at him, and her face suddenly had a blush. But she was a great rebel with great spirit. So she smiled proudly and said, “Good you are not dead. My promises always count.”


  Zhao Si glanced at her and inexplicably smiled and said, “Such a coincidence, today seems to be Double Sevens, seventh day of seventh month, the day where magpies meet.”


  **

  “Today is Qixi.”


  Ye Celeng stood on the bridge and looked in the direction the pillar of light had disappeared. She heard footsteps behind her but did not turn around as she heard this familiar voice.

  “If there is affection, there is affection, if there is none, there is none. Double sevens, double eights, double nines, what is the use? It is just believing one’s own lies,” she said coldly without looking back.

  Dressed in deep red robes yet still giving off a sense of loneliness and a rotten presence, Bureau Chief Chen looked at her back and smiled inexplicably. “I am complete when I stand behind you and see you.”


  Ye Celeng did not respond but she did not leave either, just looked up at the night sky from the bridge.

  Bureau Chief Chen also did not speak. He looked silently at the night, a hundred feet away from her, but there seemed to be a faint smile on his pale lips.

  **

  “With the Nine Death Silkworm present, she and Yuanwu will not be happy. But if she and Yuanwu do not die, I will not be happy.”


  After Ding Ning spoke, Zhangsun Qianxue’s voice did not sound. Just like their habit in Falling Parasol, this meant the two had finished their conversation.

  Yet Ding Ning did not return to his bed, and walked towards Zhangsun Qianxue’s room in the darkness.

  “What do you want to do?” Zhangsun Qianxue’s voice sounded with an unspeakable cold.

  Ding Ning said, “Help me heal.”


  A surge of murderousness appeared ahead of his hand that stretched out to push the door.

  “Not because tonight is Double Sevens.” Ding Ning shook his head and whispered seriously, “Just to live.”


  Zhangsun Qianxue stood outside the door. Her expression was calm but her eyelashes flickered. She suddenly felt evil inside and could not help but say, “Tell me what you think Yuanwu and Zheng Xiu are doing today?”


  “Sharing the same bed with different dreams.” Ding Ning smiled faintly. “There are many who are doing the same. Why care about this adulterous couple.”


  Not caring may be the attitude Zhangsun Qianxue needed. The lack of caring represented another kind of care.

  Ding Ning pushed open the door with his hand and entered.

  Volume 3 22 - At Wu Mountain