WJ Chapter 132

Go Out the East Gate (5)

At a single command, blood sprayed across the banquet hall.

The faces of all the hall masters went pale with fright.

The Four Directions Protector’s method of killing was clean and efficient — no prolonged torment, just a light and deft slash across the throat, then the sword was sheathed and he stepped back, without a single drop of blood on himself.

Surprisingly, when Li He collapsed and became a corpse, Guan Wujue felt nothing.

He stood in the center of Yangxin Hall holding his sword, bathed in the awed gazes from all sides, blood dripping down from the Daiyue blade. A gust of wind swept through his chest, scattering the dust, and quietly peeling away that old, long-standing scar.

Daiyue was sheathed with a reverse grip. Guan Wujue closed his eyes briefly, and felt his body suddenly grow warm. The hatred he once thought would be engraved on his bones for eternity could not withstand this other feeling that now held sway in his heart:

He still had to go sit beside the Sect Leader in a moment.

He couldn’t get his clothes dirty.

The Zhuhuo Guards bowed to the Protector and dragged the body away, saying that per the rules it would be left exposed for three days as a warning to others.

Soon, a line of maidservants came to wash away the long streak of blood with water, and fresh wine was served to all the hall masters to settle their nerves.

As for whether it actually settled them — Yun Changliu didn’t care.

The Sect Leader privately thought it was quite a stretch. Having the commander of guards executed at the very first reception of the thirteen branch hall masters — no matter how you looked at it, it seemed like the classic move of “a new official lighting three fires” to assert authority.

(TL: “新官上任三把火” is an idiom. Literally: “a new official takes office and lights three fires”.

Meaning: a newly appointed leader makes bold, dramatic moves at the start to assert authority.)

But he didn’t mind what others would say about him. If they painted him as a man of unpredictable moods, that might actually be convenient. More than any of that, what he truly cared about was why Guan Wujue had wanted to kill this Li He.

Wujue was not bloodthirsty, nor was he a man without a sense of proportion. Since he was Guan Muyan’s adoptive son, it was entirely possible that he had had dealings with a branch hall’s commander before entering Ghost Gate…

“Sect Leader, look at you — you’ve frightened all these guests who came from so far away.”

Guan Wujue returned to his seat beside Yun Changliu, pressing his lips together with a smile, clearly in very high spirits. He blinked and leaned in to speak quietly with the Sect Leader. “…Wujue was just testing you. Did you really have to go and kill him?”

Yun Changliu did not look at him, and said indifferently, “This lord kills the parasites of the sect. What does that have to do with the Protector?”

He didn’t want to press further, and he knew that even if he asked, Guan Wujue wouldn’t say anything — at most he could only guess blindly on his own. Guess whether his Protector had once suffered some grievance, endured some humiliation, and whether it was connected to his entry into Ghost Gate.

For some reason, even though he had managed to make the Protector happy as he’d wished, Yun Changliu’s own mood sank instead.

In any case, with blood spilled at the banquet, the branch hall envoys had no heart for any real drinking. Yun Changliu simply went along with the current and dismissed the banquet early. The branch hall masters paid their respects to the Sect Leader and withdrew from Yangxin Hall in order, disappearing into the night in the carriages waiting at the foot of the long stairs.

Shortly after, the people of Xifeng City also took their leave of one another and dispersed.

Sect Leader Yun, who was habitually accustomed to quiet, had been given a headache by the noisy clinking of glasses tonight. Having no desire to sleep, he went into his study and played the qin for a while to calm his mind.

It was half a shichen before the Sect Leader emerged, and the sky had gone completely dark. At the study door, two petite and delicate maidservants curtsied and greeted him.

They had arrived a few days prior. The older of the two was called Jin Lin, the younger Yin Lang — sisters who had grown up in the Zhuyin Sect from childhood. Since Yun Changliu was Sect Leader, it was not quite appropriate to have only Wen Feng attending to him. Especially these past two days, when Wen Feng had been too busy overseeing the banquet arrangements to manage everything, he had seized the opportunity to persuade the Sect Leader to take in this pair of sisters.

There were countless excellent maidservants in the Zhuyin Sect. These two girls had been carefully handpicked by Wen Feng. Proper, well-mannered, knowing their place and when to advance and when to retreat, literate, and with some martial ability to boot. Though they were a little young, and their natures a little naive, they had the advantage of having no scheming minds, and would not go out of their way to flatter and fawn.

Such clean, simple girls actually pleased the Sect Leader more, and could bring a little life to Yangxin Hall. Most importantly, given their young age, they posed no threat to the growing legend of the Sect Leader and Protector…

At this moment, Wen Feng was still in the main hall attending to some remaining matters after the banquet. Jin Lin had already withdrawn to fetch hot water. Yin Lang held a small hand lantern and led the Sect Leader inside.

When they reached the door of the sleeping quarters, Yun Changliu’s footsteps came to a halt.

The light of Yin Lang’s lantern shone forward — and illuminated four figures at the doorway that should have been empty and quiet!

Kneeling there were four strikingly beautiful young women, all appearing to be around sixteen or seventeen, soft and delicate. They were dressed in thin white gauze that clung to their graceful, snow-pale figures, with vivid red peony-patterned brocade dudou dimly visible underneath, lending an even more alluring air to the night.

Those small, dainty faces lifted, and they called out together in tender, sweet voices:

“We sisters pay our respects to the Sect Leader. May the Sect Leader enjoy ten thousand years of blessing.”

“…”

Yun Changliu’s brow furrowed with mild displeasure.

Ever since he had handed out a few punishments, no one in Xifeng City had dared present beauties to the Sect Leader. Now that the various branch halls had entered Mount Shenlie, he did not know what bold soul had dared bring people directly to the door of his sleeping quarters!

Yun Changliu said coldly, “This lord does not take personal attendants of this kind. All of you, withdraw at once.”

That said, the Sect Leader paid no further attention to the four beautiful young women, and turned to Yin Lang with a cold and severe expression. “Which branch hall sent them? How did you two dare let them in?”

Yin Lang hesitated, about to explain herself and her sister.

But then one of the four beauties, her eyes brimming with tears, weakly shuffled forward two steps on her knees and, in a pitifully helpless manner, began to press herself toward the Sect Leader’s feet, saying softly:

“Sect Leader, please hear us… we four sisters have been raised since childhood by our nanny in a secluded chamber. We are all of pure body. To be graced with a glimpse of the Sect Leader’s noble countenance today is a fortune spanning three lifetimes. We beg the Sect Leader to spare even half a measure of compassion, and allow us sisters to serve at your feet…”

In truth, girls like them had been trained in every expression and smile, knowing best how to capture a man’s heart. A beauty like this, weeping and pleading, soft as a cat climbing gently against one’s feet — it was truly enough to melt even the hardest of men into yielding tenderness.

Yet Yun Changliu’s expression shifted instantly into something terrifying. The Sect Leader recoiled as though he had been touched by something filthy, sharply stepping back two full paces, and barked furiously, “Insolence!”

A measure of killing intent leaked out unbidden. Yun Changliu was genuinely enraged. The beauty could not withstand the force of the Sect Leader’s presence — she trembled violently, her small face draining white, and she kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.

Yun Changliu showed no leniency. He called the Yin Ghosts out to drag them away in an instant, clearly not wishing to spare them another glance.

Yin Lang had not expected such a strong reaction from the Sect Leader either. Filled with apprehension, she silently knelt down.

Yun Changliu forced himself to suppress his irritation and rebuked her coldly. “You ought to know that this lord does not welcome outsiders here.”

Yin Lang panicked, knowing she had committed a serious error, and quickly admitted her fault. “This servant is guilty, this servant is guilty… It is only because these four were sent by the Protector just now, that this servant and her sister did not dare stop them. This servant begs the Sect Leader’s punishment, and will never dare do so again.”

“—Wait.”

Unexpectedly, before she had even finished speaking, Yun Changliu’s expression shifted strangely. His brow furrowed, and he slowly repeated her words back to her. “Who sent them?”

Yin Lang said timidly:

“It was… it was Protector Guan… who sent them…”

And then — Yin Lang witnessed something inconceivable.

The Sect Leader, who just a moment ago had radiated an aura so heavy it made breathing difficult, his stern face barely containing suppressed rage — seemed to blank for a moment. That fire was blown apart and scattered all at once.

Yun Changliu gave a light sigh, and actually lowered his head, smiling helplessly to himself, and muttered under his breath, “…Making trouble again.”

Then he calmly waved a hand at Yin Lang. “Rise. This time it will be overlooked — but there must not be a next time. Find out who it was that sent those women to the Protector. As soon as possible.”

Yin Lang stared blankly, completely dumbfounded by the lightning-fast change in attitude.

What she could not have anticipated was that Sect Leader Yun did not enter the sleeping quarters at all — instead, he borrowed her hand lantern and walked back out.

Saying he was going directly to Qingjue Residence to demand an explanation. Heaven only knows what he was really going to do.

To be honest, Yun Changliu didn’t even need to borrow the lantern. The golden decorative lanterns of Xifeng City had just been hung and set in place, and had not yet been taken down — even at night, the city was bright as day.

It was only when he had truly walked to Qingjue Residence, away from those festive lights, that it grew the slightest bit dim. The Zhuhuo Guards at the door saw the Sect Leader and Protector together day after day and were used to it; even now, seeing Yun Changliu arrive deep in the night, they were not overly startled, and greeted the Sect Leader according to proper etiquette.

Yun Changliu did not know whether Guan Wujue had already retired for the night, and also harbored a measure of mischievous intent to get back at him. He told the guards not to announce his arrival, concealed his presence, and slipped quietly inside.

He had not expected that the moment he pushed the door open, a powerful smell of alcohol would rush up to greet him.

Inside the darkened Qingjue Residence, Guan Wujue sat with his back to the door, drinking. His hair was loose and disheveled, and he was slumped sideways, half draped over the table. He wasn’t even using a cup — he simply raised his arm, knocked away the clay seal, picked up the jar, tipped his head back, and guzzled.

A closer look revealed two already empty jars at his feet.

Yun Changliu was so startled that all his anger evaporated. He no longer thought about demanding an explanation — all he could think was that Wujue had already drunk quite a lot at the banquet and had barely eaten anything, and now he was pouring it down his throat like this. How could that end well?

The Sect Leader rushed forward and seized the wine jar from the Protector’s hands. “Wujue! You can’t drink any more.”

Silence spread through the darkness. The cheeks that Guan Wujue turned toward him were flushed with intoxication, and Yun Changliu’s heart gave a sudden heavy thud.

The Protector’s gaze was unfocused. He stared at Yun Changliu for a long while before recognizing him, and called out quietly, as if not quite believing it. “Sect… Leader?”

“It’s this lord.”

Yun Changliu felt both exasperated and pained, thinking to himself — what was all this… Was it because of the commander he had killed today? But he had seemed perfectly fine in Yangxin Hall just moments ago!

Through the darkness, Guan Wujue caught the outline of that cold, white-robed figure. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a low, hoarse laugh. “…You didn’t like Wujue’s gift? That figures. You’re so skittish — even shyer than some sheltered young lady…”

After saying this, the red-robed Protector swayed and toppled into Yun Changliu’s arms, closing his eyes and mumbling, “But you can’t… go your whole life never touching a woman and never starting a family…”

He was this drunk, talking nothing but nonsense — Yun Changliu couldn’t even bring himself to be angry. The body in his arms, smelling of wine and utterly boneless, pressed into his chest, making his breathing fall into disorder for several beats, and he was no longer capable of maintaining his usual composure.

The truth was that the Protector had a very good tolerance for alcohol, but tonight he had truly drunk too much. Guan Wujue slumped against Yun Changliu and reached out to grope for the wine jar still in the Sect Leader’s hand. When he couldn’t reach it, he looked at Yun Changliu with mild displeasure, his brows softly knitted, and slurred in a low voice. “Sect Leader, give me back my wine, Wujue wants to keep drinking…”

Yun Changliu set the wine jar down on the ground. “No.”

Guan Wujue persisted. “Still want it.”

Yun Changliu reached out to pull Guan Wujue upright and steered him toward the bed. “You’re drunk.”

Guan Wujue shook his head with a frown and pushed at the Sect Leader a few times. “Don’t… don’t pull me… this subordinate is not drunk…”

Yun Changliu held his waist more firmly. “Every drunk person says they’re not drunk.”

The two of them stumbled and tangled their way to the bedside with great effort. Yun Changliu helped Guan Wujue sit down.

The latter’s lapels were soaked through with wine. Of course Yun Changliu couldn’t let him sleep like that — he briskly stripped off Guan Wujue’s outer robe, pulled the blanket over to wrap around the Protector’s upper body, and said, “Wait for me.”

He was about to turn and go to the cabinet to fetch a fresh inner robe for Guan Wujue to change into, when he was suddenly grabbed by the sleeve from behind.

The Protector sat on the edge of the bed, and asked with absolute seriousness:

“Sect Leader, do you dislike women?”

Yun Changliu was caught off guard.

The Sect Leader covered his lips and coughed twice, forcing out an indignant reply. “I do not like them!”

Guan Wujue pressed on relentlessly. “Then do you like men?”

“…”

Yun Changliu was speechless with exasperation. He shot the Protector a sharp glare and said, “I do not like them either!”

If he said yes, would the Protector try to send men to Yangxin Hall next?!

Guan Wujue laughed again softly, as though he hadn’t heard the Sect Leader’s words at all. He simply raised his eyes to look at Yun Changliu. Those dark irises held a soft, hazy layer of mist, his lips glistening as they parted:

“Then could it be… that you actually… like me?”