WJ Chapter 100

Tu Yuan (2)

However, even though Yun Changliu had made himself look so miserable, he didn’t remain unconscious for very long.

Ah Ku had just finished simply treating his wounds and changing his clothes when the Young Sect Leader silently opened his eyes.

He saw Ah Ku kneeling at the foot of the bed. The blue-robed young boy was throwing a cloth soaked through with blood into a water basin. Hearing the movement, he turned his eyes toward him with a reassuring smile and said softly, “Just bear with it a bit longer. I’ll take you to the Medicine Gate right away.”

Actually, because Ah Ku’s blood was frequently taken, his own room was stocked with quite a few medicinal supplies. But of course they couldn’t compare with the Zhuyin Sect’s Medicine Gate. Using them for emergencies was one thing, but with Yun Changliu injured like this, it was naturally impossible to just let him lie there doing nothing.

Yun Changliu weakly shook his head. He reached out from under the blanket and tugged at the little medicine person’s clothing corner, stubbornly saying, “No… I don’t want you to go there again. I can walk, I’ll go into the city myself…”

As he spoke, he actually tried to prop himself up to get out of bed.

Ah Ku’s expression darkened slightly. Having just witnessed this Young Sect Leader’s stubborn temper, he was already too lazy to use words to persuade him. He stood up and scooped Yun Changliu into his arms, directly carrying him horizontally as he walked out of the room.

The Young Sect Leader cried out in surprise, “You’re injured yourself… put me down!”

“Shut up.” Ah Ku walked out of the wooden house’s door and said coldly, “I’m telling you, I’m really angry now. If you move again, I’ll seal your sleep acupoint.”

“You can’t enter Xifeng City, I’m like this…” Yun Changliu became somewhat anxious, stammering, “If someone misunderstands… wait until I explain everything clearly to Father, then you can enter the city!”

Ah Ku actually laughed in anger, saying viciously, “Young Sect Leader, so you do know how frightening you look!?”

By this time, the sun was just setting outside, the sky already darkening, and the outline of Mount Shenlie was beginning to blur. Ah Ku used his qinggong to carry him all the way up the mountain, while Yun Changliu still insisted he shouldn’t enter the city.

The two argued for most of the mountain path. Finally, Ah Ku dared not provoke the severely wounded and weakened Young Sect Leader any further and compromised, only escorting Yun Changliu to outside Xifeng City.

He watched from afar as the Zhuhuo Guards hurriedly came down from the city walls, carried Yun Changliu inside, then hesitated and lingered at the city gate for a long time. Seeing the sky grow even darker, he finally turned and left with slight unease.

…Actually, Ah Ku understood in his heart that what Yun Changliu said was right.

He was fortunate that he had changed out of those blood-soaked clothes for him, so the truth wasn’t immediately apparent. Otherwise, if the Young Sect Leader had an accident while at his place, regardless of whether the fault was his, he would first be thrown into the Punishment Hall for a few days.

At a time like this, he really should leave all the explaining to the Young Sect Leader and hide himself to temporarily avoid the storm—that would be the best strategy.

But Ah Ku still felt conflicted inside, and vaguely worried.

Logically speaking, Yun Changliu was the Young Sect Leader of the Zhuyin Sect, and now that he’d been sent to his own people, there couldn’t possibly be any problems. As for killing Hall Master Huang in the blood-drawing room, given Yun Guyan’s usual style, he should be able to cover for his beloved son no matter what.

Thinking this way, there really didn’t seem to be anything for a little medicine person like him to worry about.

Yet as Ah Ku walked alone on the road back to the wooden house, he still couldn’t help shaking his head and sighing.

—What if in the future the Young Sect Leader really would rather die than drink his medicine blood? What would he do then?

As he walked, he suddenly felt something and looked up, seeing thick dark clouds in the sky, hanging heavily over the peak of Mount Shenlie.

No wonder it was getting dark so quickly—it was going to snow.

…..

A moment later, when Yun Changliu was being escorted by several Zhuhuo Guards, enduring his injuries as he slowly walked into the Medicine Gate, he happened to hear the sound of arguing inside.

“Young Master, this really won’t do! You’re making things difficult for your subordinate…”

Yun Changliu tilted his head slightly, recognizing the voice of a physician who held quite a high position within the Medicine Gate.

He raised his hand toward the Zhuhuo Guards behind him, signaling them to remain silent and stop.

He heard the physician say urgently, “Yes, the medicine blood of this group of medicine people can indeed help increase internal cultivation, but they’re different from ordinary medicine people. Each person’s destination has already been arranged—they’re all rewards from the Sect Leader to subordinates who have great merit…”

And immediately following was Young Master Yun Danjing’s voice, full of hostility. “You mean to say that this Young Master doesn’t deserve to use them!?”

“…”

Yun Changliu’s footsteps paused, and he frowned slightly.

Since Yun Guyan had personally begun teaching him martial arts, he spent most of each day together with Ah Ku, and indeed hadn’t seen Yun Danjing for a while.

Chanjuan would occasionally time her visits to come to Changsheng Pavilion to cling to him, and had mentioned how unwilling Danjing was about losing last time, how he’d been practicing martial arts even more diligently these days, determined to win back his honor and so on…

He hadn’t expected that Yun Danjing would think to use medicine people evil arts?

Yun Changliu’s thoughts became chaotic for a moment. He continued covering the knife wound on his lower abdomen as he shuffled step by step inside.

Those Zhuhuo Guards followed in trepidation. They had naturally already noticed that the Young Sect Leader was seriously injured, but Yun Changliu truly disliked being touched by strangers. At the city gate, he had endured it to set Ah Ku’s mind at ease, but once the Zhuhuo Guards had carried him away from the gate, he insisted on walking by himself.

How could the Zhuhuo Guards dare disobey the Young Sect Leader? They could only send a few people to report to the Sect Leader, while the rest followed along behind, their hearts in their throats the whole way.

Yun Changliu himself was completely oblivious to this. He continued shuffling slowly inside until he finally saw Yun Danjing in a standoff with the physician, and behind them several cowering medicine people.

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare…”

The physician was covered in sweat, bowing toward Yun Danjing while repeatedly saying, “Young Master Danjing, you don’t understand. The Sect Leader won’t let you use this type of medicine person because using this method to increase internal cultivation is ultimately not the righteous path, and easily makes one’s foundation unstable…”

“Think about it—the Sect Leader gives this type of medicine person to subordinates to use, but subordinates are ultimately outsiders. Besides, most of them are getting on in years, and some have already hit bottlenecks where their internal cultivation can hardly advance another inch. But Young Master, you’re still young, with unlimited prospects ahead. The Sect Leader won’t let you use these evil arts for your own good.”

Yun Danjing wouldn’t listen. He ground his teeth in fury, glaring. “Then why… why can Young Sect Leader Changliu use them!”

The physician hurried to explain with a smile, “Ah, Young Master, you’ve got it wrong. The Young Sect Leader has only ever used medicine people for detoxification, to treat his illness. This type of cultivation medicine person—the Young Sect Leader has never used them either.”

Unexpectedly, this statement only enraged Yun Danjing even more. The Young Master instantly changed expression, jumping up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at the physician’s nose and cursing:

“Nonsense! The Young Sect Leader has Father transmitting cultivation to him directly—does he even need medicine people!? What, do you all think the Young Sect Leader is exceptionally talented? When it comes to borrowing external assistance, his foundation can remain stable! But I just can’t—”

Yun Changliu couldn’t help but softly call out, “Danjing.”

Yun Danjing’s furious shout stopped abruptly, as if his throat had been seized.

He turned his head in shock, but before he could feel ashamed or angry, seeing Yun Changliu’s injured state made his eyes widen. “You… how did you end up like this!?”

Yun Changliu continued taking slow steps forward. The physician was experienced—with an “aiyoo” of alarm, he rushed over to support the Young Sect Leader, asking repeatedly if he was severely injured anywhere.

Yun Changliu made an “mm” sound and calmly unfastened his clothing, revealing a line of snow-white, slender skin from chest to waist, naturally also exposing the knife wound on his lower abdomen that had been simply bandaged but was still seeping spots of blood.

Both the physician and Yun Danjing’s faces changed in fright, and immediately the Medicine Gate was thrown into chaos. Yun Changliu was lifted up again by a crowd of people who came rushing over, carried like glass to a bed inside the Medicine Gate.

Through the coming and going figures, he saw Yun Danjing in the distance watching this way with a complex expression for a while, then lowering his head and turning to leave.

Ah Ku’s emergency bandaging and medicine were naturally replaced with better ones, and five physicians surrounded him with concerned inquiries, making so much noise that Yun Changliu frowned again and said nothing.

…On the surface he was quiet and silent, but actually his heart was extremely vexed.

However, he knew that Yun Guyan must have already received the news and would probably arrive soon. If not for waiting for his father, the Young Sect Leader would have long since closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

Before long, another person rushed to Yun Changliu’s bedside with a face full of anxiety. This time it was actually Wen Feng who had come. The young attendant’s handsome face showed utter panic, speaking incoherently, “Heavens… Young Sect Leader! You—how did you get injured like this? What on earth happened?”

“…”

Yun Changliu really, really didn’t want to talk, so he just nestled among the bedding and blankets, staring at Wen Feng impassively.

This tactic indeed worked. Before long, the young attendant’s face stiffened, and he awkwardly closed his mouth and withdrew.

But Young Sect Leader Changliu was destined not to have peace. Wen Feng had only withdrawn to the side for a short while when everyone at the Medicine Gate called out “Sect Leader” and dropped to their knees in unison with a whoosh.

Yun Guyan walked in with a dark expression, his gaze falling on Yun Changliu’s obviously abnormally pale face, suddenly turning ice-cold.

Young Sect Leader Changliu lowered his eyelashes, weakly calling out, “…Father.”

…

Just as Ah Ku had anticipated, Yun Guyan didn’t blame Yun Changliu for killing Hall Master Huang. Instead, he said everything had been handled cleanly and told him to rest and recover with peace of mind.

The Zhuyin Sect Leader’s methods were naturally quite ruthless. Upon receiving the news, without even waiting to get the full details, he decisively first ordered the information sealed to prevent unrest among the people at the Donghuai City branch.

Immediately after, Zhuhuo Guards were dispatched, surrounding that group of branch envoys in grand fashion. Putting on airs to drag out the time for half a shichen, the Archives Hall had already dug up Hall Master Huang’s background thoroughly.

Fortunately, this Hall Master Huang wasn’t particularly clean either, so fabricating a few charges was easy as pie. With capital crimes listed one by one, and the Sect Leader’s candle dragon seal pressed onto the Punishment Hall decree sentencing him to death, how would those people from the branch dare say another word?

Yun Guyan’s intimidating power was extraordinary. It was common for the life and death of sect members to rest entirely on the Sect Leader’s whim, and no one truly had the guts to resist. In the end, Hall Master Huang’s death was just swept under the rug.

…However, this didn’t make Yun Changliu feel any better.

Although this matter was swept aside, there were always things Yun Guyan refused to let go.

Yun Guyan looked at the Young Sect Leader’s injuries and listened as Yun Changliu truthfully explained the circumstances. Then he heard the arriving Guan Muyan confirm the fact that the Fengchun Sheng had taken effect… He sat by Yun Changliu’s bedside with a dark expression, his face frightening as he remained silent for a very, very long time, but ultimately didn’t say much.

Young Sect Leader Changliu’s degree of cherishing Ah Ku exceeded everyone’s expectations, and the Sect Leader actually didn’t dare push too hard. Yun Guyan even agreed that this matter could be overlooked for now. From beginning to end, he only threatened the child with one sentence, and it was one Ah Ku had said before.

—When the Young Sect Leader’s life ends, that will be Ah Ku’s time to die.

Yun Changliu showed a trace of sorrow, softly pleading, “No, Father.”

Yun Guyan swept his sleeve and stood up from beside the bed. Rarely ignoring his precious Liu’er, he only left behind the back of his wide black robe as he walked out of the room.

This was silently declaring that this was his final bottom line.

Yun Changliu stared blankly, lying on the bed.

He felt exhausted all over, so tired he didn’t want to speak or move.

He didn’t know how long had passed.

He heard footsteps approaching.

It was Yun Danjing. This Young Master had apparently not left and seemed to have been hiding nearby listening the whole time.

Yun Danjing walked back with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall, glaring at Young Sect Leader Changliu on the bed with an expression of disappointment. “Can’t you show some backbone? Making such a fuss over life and death for a medicine person—where’s even half a bit of Young Sect Leader dignity!”

Yun Changliu wearily closed his eyes without speaking.

Yun Danjing felt an inexplicable fire rise in his heart, muttering resentfully:

“Whatever, you and I are different anyway! So what if you’re a medicine jar? So what if you’re weak your whole life… Who told Father to only dote on you! In the future, you’ll be the Sect Leader anyway, and I’ll have to kneel before you.”

Yun Changliu on the bed remained silent.

Yun Danjing had thought that saying such harsh words would surely make Yun Changliu comfort him, but unexpectedly his brother didn’t acknowledge him at all.

This only made his own endless chatter seem all the more ridiculous. The Young Master’s face flushed red. He held it in but couldn’t hold back, suddenly craning his neck with angry sarcasm:

“Do you think this makes you look merciful!? I’ve heard that years ago when a batch of medicine people entered the sect, dozens of those children all died for you!”

“Even now, what use is it to protect that one medicine person!? If you’re so capable, can you bring all those dead medicine people back to life!?”

Throwing out this sentence, Yun Danjing actually felt both wronged and stifled. Why could he never compare to this soft-tempered brother no matter what!?

He refused to look back even once, turned and slammed the door heavily, running out on his own.

He didn’t see that behind him, Yun Changliu still quietly closed his eyes, but his face had suddenly turned ashen with defeat.

….

It was indeed snowing.

In that little wooden house outside Xifeng City, Ah Ku had already closed the windows and lit the stove. With a blanket draped over his shoulders, he was as usual reading a book while brewing his medicine, but his attention kept being drawn by the howling sounds outside.

The snowflakes were blown by the wind, hitting the closed wooden windows with rapid pitter-patters, as if striking his very heart.

…He wondered how his Young Sect Leader was doing.

The injuries should all be treated by now.

At this hour, he should have taken medicine and gone to sleep, right?

Inside Xifeng City, it must be much warmer than here.

He wondered if this snow could stop by tomorrow morning?

If the snow cleared, he’d go into the city to see the Young Sect Leader…

—Bang bang bang!!

The sudden pounding on the door from outside startled Ah Ku.

The sound was both urgent and heavy, mixed with wind and snow, actually making one’s heart suddenly tighten with unease.

Somehow, Ah Ku’s heart clenched violently. Without hesitation, he rushed over and opened the door, then was even more astonished.

This brocade-robed young boy outside—he had seen him before.

Ah Ku remembered he was Yun Changliu’s half-brother.

Yun Danjing was completely soaked through by the snow, like a drowned rat, having long lost his usual imposing manner.

His hands, red from the cold, held a lantern. His eyes were rimmed with red as he stared at Ah Ku and said, “You… you’re the medicine person who follows Young Sect Leader Changliu, aren’t you? Did he come here to you!?”

“—What did you say!?”

Just this one sentence made Ah Ku’s gaze suddenly become sharper and more piercing than the wind and snow outside.

Without any courtesy, he grabbed Yun Danjing’s clothing and roughly dragged the child inside, coldly demanding through clenched teeth. “Where is the Young Sect Leader! What happened!?”

Yun Danjing, unusually, didn’t resist. His lips trembled painfully as he stammered. “Yun Changliu, he… he… he’s disappeared.”