WJ Chapter 45

Zijin (3)

Inside Yangxin Hall, Ghost Gate Master Xue Duxing, Left Envoy Xiao Donghe, and Right Envoy Hua Wan stood in succession.

Yun Changliu sat behind the long desk, carefully reading through the case files that Hua Wan had presented.

Just yesterday he had endured numerous torments—arrow wounds and blood loss, disordered internal breath, profound mental anguish, even unconsciousness. Now, apart from his complexion still appearing slightly pale, there was not the slightest sign of abnormality.

Xue Duxing stood before the Sect Leader in a black robe, his expression solemn as he reported, “The Sect Leader dispatched a total of twenty Yin Ghosts to escort Protector Guan. Fifteen perished, the remaining five escaped midway and have now returned to the sect, currently awaiting the Sect Leader’s judgment at Ghost Gate.”

Unlike Guan Muyan, a halfway elder whom the old Sect Leader had both threatened and enticed to come out of retirement, Xue Duxing was a veteran of the sect. He had been an elder of Zhuyin Sect since Yun Guyan’s time as Sect Leader, serving as Ghost Gate Master for nearly twenty years, having trained countless batches of Yin Ghosts and Zhuhuo Guards.

Among them was not only the Four Directions Protector Guan Wujue, but even Ghost Gate’s current Vice Gate Master Shan Yi had been personally promoted by him.

Xue Duxing was cold, proud, and strict by nature. It was said that the number of times one could see him smile in a year didn’t exceed the fingers on one hand. Moreover, he had always been upright and unyielding. When the old Sect Leader stepped down and supported his eldest son to succeed as Sect Leader, only this person dared to stand up in opposition, even publicly pointing at the then-Young Master Changliu and cursing him as “a milk-stinking brat.”

It was only after Yun Changliu led Zhuyin Sect to break the siege of Xifeng City by the combined forces of three sects and five clans that Elder Xue truly became convinced of this young Sect Leader, personally kneeling at the entrance of Yangxin Hall to offer his humble apology, making everyone at Ghost Gate break out in a cold sweat for their Gate Master.

But Yun Changliu had always had an indifferent temperament and didn’t take it to heart at all, brushing the matter aside with a light touch. Elder Xue remained as Ghost Gate Master, and over these years that face like the King of Hell had never changed.

Yun Changliu set down the scroll in his hands. He didn’t believe that with the Yin Ghosts’ loyalty, five would flee from battle together. He could easily guess that it was Guan Wujue who had sent them away. “Wasn’t it an order from the Protector?”

“Indeed it was the Protector who commanded them to leave, but even so…”

“Since it was under orders,” Yun Changliu interrupted Xue Duxing, “you cannot blame them. Send these five Yin Ghosts to Archives Hall to assist the Right Envoy in investigating the assassins’ origins.”

Xue Duxing’s expression darkened. With a sweep of his robe, he turned to kneel. “Twenty Yin Ghosts guarding one person, yet the Protector was wounded so gravely; yesterday the Sect Leader ordered them to leave survivors, yet the Yin Ghosts failed to prevent the assassin’s suicide… This is an enormous dereliction of duty by Ghost Gate. As Gate Master, I cannot escape responsibility. Please, Sect Leader, impose punishment!”

“This lord briefly crossed hands with that group. Their martial arts specifically counter Yin Ghosts—it was not Ghost Gate’s failure.”

Yun Changliu’s voice was calm. He steadily raised his hand, and Xue Duxing immediately felt an irresistible force supporting him, his knees unable to bend no matter how hard he tried.

“If Elder Xue insists on receiving punishment, this lord will punish you by personally selecting a few intact corpses from among the assassins and moving them to Punishment Hall for the Left Envoy to examine.”

“Ah, that’s unnecessary for the Sect Leader to request—Elder Xue already sent them yesterday.” Xiao Donghe suddenly spoke up from the side. The Left Envoy stepped forward, reporting with slight reluctance. “However, these assassins had clearly prepared for death. There are no traces whatsoever on the bodies that could be tracked. We can only deduce from the hand bones that this group was skilled with concealed weapons. As for the rest… forgive this subordinate’s incompetence.”

Yun Changliu frowned slightly.

They had actually been this thorough…

Where exactly had these assassins come from? To know the Yin Ghosts’ weaknesses so well—either there was a deadly external enemy or an internal traitor. Either way, it could not be taken lightly.

“Then we’ll wait until the Protector awakens to discuss further—Hua Wan.”

Hearing the Sect Leader call, Xiao Donghe withdrew at the appropriate time. Right Envoy Hua Wan responded and stepped forward. “Yes.”

“This matter is of great importance and must be thoroughly investigated. The investigation into the Protector and Ah Ku that was mentioned last time should temporarily…”

Yun Changliu had wanted to say “temporarily be set aside,” but suddenly paused to think, a trace of something unusual flashing in his eyes. He shook his head. “…No, that matter also cannot be delayed. This lord will give you some extra time. Right Envoy, you’ll have to work a bit harder.”

Hua Wan quickly bowed her head. “The Sect Leader overwhelms Hua Wan with such words. This is my duty to begin with—how can it be called hard work?”

Yun Changliu gave a few more instructions to each of them, finally saying, “Left Envoy, remain for now. You two may withdraw.”

Hua Wan and Xue Duxing saluted the Sect Leader and withdrew.

The remaining Xiao Donghe was puzzled. Logically, all official business had been concluded, so he didn’t know why the Sect Leader was keeping him alone.

Then he saw Yun Changliu casually draw his outer robe together, leaning his upper body back to assume a more relaxed posture. Yet his expression didn’t relax in the slightest—if anything, it seemed even more grave.

“Yesterday your words were not finished. Continue.”

Xiao Donghe was confused. “Yesterday?”

Yun Changliu asked, “You said ‘moreover’ what?”

Only then did Xiao Donghe realize, his heart skipping a beat.

The Sect Leader still wanted to pursue the matter of Guan Wujue!

The Left Envoy immediately felt troubled. How could he explain this to the Sect Leader?

What he had indeed wanted to say that day was, “Moreover, Wujue left the sect to travel only half a month after completing his punishment, with insufficient rest—injury to his body was almost inevitable.”

But now, having seen how the Sect Leader ached for the Protector, though he quarreled with Wen Feng on the surface, in his heart he truly couldn’t bear to say more.

Just as he had told Wen Feng, if Yun Changliu had known the true extent of Guan Wujue’s injuries back then, he probably wouldn’t have been willing to send him away. The matter was long past now, and Xiao Donghe really didn’t want to use it to hurt the Sect Leader further.

Who knew that Yun Changliu actually remembered clearly and was relentlessly pressing the matter!

Seeing Xiao Donghe momentarily at a loss for words, the Sect Leader’s mind was clear as a mirror. He immediately guessed the Left Envoy’s inner conflict and couldn’t help but shake his head helplessly. “…Don’t listen to Wen Feng’s nonsense. His temperament is somewhat extreme—this lord has already confined him to his quarters. Now you can speak truthfully.”

“This lord does not like being kept in the dark.”

“I want to know what the actual situation was.”

…..

Approximately one shichen later.

When Xiao Donghe emerged from Yangxin Hall, he felt nearly exhausted.

In the end, the Sect Leader had forced him to pour out everything he knew. But the problem was that he himself was confused—apart from Guan Wujue’s condition at the time, he had nothing useful to tell the Sect Leader.

After one shichen, Yun Changliu’s face had turned pale. He spoke of seeing him out but nearly couldn’t stand up. Left Envoy Xiao was terrified and quickly summoned those two young maidservants Jin Lin and Yin Lang. Only after watching them steady the Sect Leader did he dare to leave…

Left Envoy Daren rubbed his head and couldn’t help but silently curse those two fellows, Guan Wujue and Wen Feng, for whatever they were doing. He had just stepped out of the great hall’s doors when suddenly a familiar, coquettish voice burst into his ears:

“Where’s Guan Wujue? My Brother Changliu is so capable—he only got injured because of him! Make that bastard get out of Yangxin Hall!”

—Miss Chanjuan?

How did this young lady get here!

Xiao Donghe was startled, afraid that another complication would arise at this critical juncture, and quickly hurried forward.

At the bottom of the long steps outside Yangxin Hall, Yun Chanjuan still wore an eye-catching pink dress, her rouge-colored soft whip in hand, angrily shouting incessantly.

Right beside her, Ah Ku wore a troubled expression, anxiously pleading, “Miss, the Sect Leader is injured and needs quiet rest. Please stop shouting…”

But Ah Ku’s attempt to persuade only made things worse. As soon as he spoke, Yun Chanjuan, blocked by the Zhuhuo Guards from entering, immediately vented her anger on him:

“You’re not any better either! Ever since you came, my Brother Changliu has been falling ill and getting injured… Hmph! Little jinx! You came here today to seduce the Sect Leader too, didn’t you?”

Ah Ku was at a loss, looking like he was about to cry. “Miss, if you’re unhappy you can beat and scold Ah Ku all you want, but the Sect Leader’s body cannot withstand agitation. I beg you, please stop shouting!”

Xiao Donghe’s temples immediately throbbed with pain. What cursed day was this, that these two people had run into each other!?

He hurried forward. “Miss, please return for today. The Sect Leader is extremely tired and has just gone to sleep.”

“Brother Changliu’s injuries are very serious?”

“The Sect Leader’s injuries are very serious?”

The two people at the bottom of the steps spoke in unison, equally anxious at this moment.

But Yun Chanjuan immediately glared, viciously pointing at Ah Ku, her long whip rising. “Not only are you lecturing me, but you dare to mimic my words!?”

“No, no, no, Miss, you mustn’t strike—this person is the Sect Leader’s savior…”

Xiao Donghe was covered in sweat, reaching out to intercede, saying miserably, “Listen to me, you should go back first. The Sect Leader has truly gone to rest. Look, even I, the Left Envoy, have been sent out…”

Then followed a bout of coaxing and cajoling, half-lying and half-deceiving, until finally this young miss reluctantly withdrew her whip.

Yun Chanjuan snorted, summoned her attending maids, and turned to walk back. Ah Ku thanked the Left Envoy repeatedly and also quietly returned.

Xiao Donghe wiped away cold sweat, watching the two departing figures with utter exhaustion.

He looked up at the vast sky, then turned back to glance at Yangxin Hall, heaving a long sigh.

“This truly is… blessings never come in pairs, but misfortunes never come alone…”

…..

Sometimes, when dreaming, one clearly knows it’s a dream, yet still remains trapped in the dreamscape, unable to wake.

Guan Wujue countless times wanted to open his eyes, yet could never wake up. The outside world seemed separated by a layer of gauze, while he himself was sunk in viscosity, his limbs heavy, breathing difficult, consciousness intermittent.

Only dream scenes kept shifting and disturbing his mind.

Someone plucked peach blossoms in the third month of spring; someone punted a boat into the Milky Way.

Someone held him tightly from behind, crying out.

Someone hummed a soft, ancient melody.

Clearly knowing it was false.

Yet unable to escape, unable to awaken.

Suddenly, gradually, brightness began to rise from the distance.

The chaotic fragments gradually receded.

Guan Wujue opened his eyes within the dream.

Fine snowflakes were drifting down from the sky.

He lay beneath an enormous cinnabar plum tree, above his head a sea of red blossoms like fire, beneath him accumulated snow.

Guan Wujue turned his head slightly and saw Yun Changliu in white robes sitting beside him, long hair flowing over his shoulders, back leaning against the tree trunk.

The two were very, very close.

One sitting, one lying.

Clear and bright celestial light, carrying snow, filtered down through the gaps in the branches. The plum blossoms’ fragrance filled the air.

Guan Wujue slowly smiled. He knew this was yet another dream. “…Sect Leader?”

Yun Changliu also wore a light smile, his refined countenance like that of an immortal. He reached over to gently brush through his hair, then interlaced their ten fingers. “Lin’er has awakened.”

Guan Wujue closed his eyes, murmuring softly in his heart:

No, You cannot call me that anymore.

Absolutely do not call me that.

But he suddenly felt a wave of dazed infatuation, and what came out was: “Sect Leader, look—the plum blossoms have bloomed…”

In the next moment, the dream scene became blurred.

A familiar, cool voice seemed to transmit from the distant horizon:

—If you know the plum blossoms have bloomed, why don’t you quickly open your eyes and look?

In the next instant, a tremendous force pulled him from the dreamscape, as if someone was tightly gripping his hand, firmly leading him out of this chaos.

“Mm…”

On the bed in Yangxin Hall’s inner chamber, Guan Wujue, sunken into pillows and bedding, suddenly turned his head, unconsciously moaning, his lashes trembling with difficulty.

After a long while, the Four Directions Protector, who had been unconscious for so long, finally slowly opened his eyes.

His blurred vision gradually cleared.

Guan Wujue blinked, and saw Yun Changliu.

The Sect Leader wore his inner robe loosely, lying on his side beside him with one hand propping up his temple, a pair of long eyes staring fixedly at him.

The two were very, very close, just like in the dream.