WJ Chapter 85

Volume One Completion Bonus Chapter

When Yun Changliu jolted awake from his dream, Yangxin Hall was brightly lit.

The Sect Leader gasped softly as he sat up and threw off the covers, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead—it was damp with cold sweat. He reached to his side and felt lingering warmth, but the space was empty.

The images from his nightmare were still vivid, and even that feeling of losing everything in utter despair felt so terrifyingly real.

Yun Changliu closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, unable to suppress a soft sigh.

After finishing the midday meal today, he had followed his usual routine of holding Guan Wujue while they napped together. The Protector was physically weak now and slept often—sometimes he would drowse through two full hours in the afternoon. Usually it was Yun Changliu who woke first, then patiently held him while waiting for him to wake.

He hadn’t expected that this time Guan Wujue would wake first and then actually get up without making a sound.

Perhaps the absence of someone in his arms had made him uneasy even in sleep, and he’d ended up having a nightmare, experiencing once again the events from several months ago.

Yun Changliu couldn’t help but feel rueful—Wujue was clearly back at his side now, yet he was still this frightened.

Most likely, it would take several years before he could get past this hurdle.

In fact, it was entirely possible he would dwell on it for the rest of his life.

Yun Changliu sat on the bed feeling melancholy for a while, then after a moment composed himself, put on his outer robe and got out of bed to find his person.

Guan Wujue was indeed in the adjacent study.

Summer had arrived now, and even on the lofty, frigid Mount Shenlie, the afternoon sunlight at this hour was gentle.

The Protector, newly recovered from serious injuries, was leaning against the window, sitting in a chair. Guan Wujue had apparently just woken up as well—his long hair was unbound, his slender legs crossed, and he held a book in his hands, reading with great interest.

The study faced the sun, and outside sunlight filtering through the clouds fell on the patch of floor by his feet, giving one a warm, comfortable feeling just looking at it.

Actually, before Guan Wujue moved into Yangxin Hall, the Sect Leader’s study could be said to be utterly boring.

Nine-tenths of it was filled with memorials concerning sect affairs and old case files he kept, with the remaining tenth being some of Yun Changliu’s own personal collection.

As for his collection, most of it consisted of rare qin scores and martial arts manuals—to outsiders, it was truly uninteresting.

It wasn’t until winter, when Yun Changliu confined the Protector in his own Yangxin Hall after he was injured in an assassination attempt, that he requisitioned a batch of rare medical texts from the Medicine Gate for him to read for amusement, finally adding some new books to the study.

Later, when spring arrived and Guan Wujue awoke from his prolonged coma, Yun Changliu insisted on keeping him close while he recuperated. During that period, the Sect Leader truly exhausted his every thought. This time Guan Wujue had been damaged far too severely—Yun Changliu wasn’t just heartbroken, he was mainly afraid Wujue would develop dark thoughts.

After all, going from being one of the renowned Four Directions Protector who dominated the jianghu to being confined to a sickbed—such a fall was no different from plummeting from the clouds into the mud. Not only that, but Guan Wujue’s heart meridian had been severely injured twice by the Piercing-Heart Blood-Extraction Needle. In the worst case scenario, he might never be able to practice martial arts again.

Just thinking about it slightly made Yun Changliu’s heart ache in fine, dense waves—not just ache, but also carry a faint fear. He himself wished nothing more than to protect Wujue in Xifeng City for the rest of his life and let him recuperate properly, but how could the proud and lofty Protector bear such a thing?

He was terrified that Guan Wujue, being ill for so long, would develop thoughts of self-loathing, so every day he thought of every possible way to make him happy. The Sect Leader couldn’t learn honeyed words, so he could only give gifts. Yun Changliu had no desires or needs himself and had never had any particular hobbies—even his qin practice was more for Yun Guyan’s sake—but at this time he could devote extreme care for the Protector’s sake, quite having the bearing of past dynasty’s foolish emperors gathering the world’s rarities to win a beauty’s smile. The usually cold and austere Yangxin Hall finally took on a few traces of human warmth.

Later, the Sect Leader had Attendant Wen remove all those old books from the study and add several dozen volumes of interesting new books, one of which was currently held in Guan Wujue’s hands.

It must be said that the books Sect Leader Yun carefully selected were clearly very much to the Protector’s taste. When Guan Wujue noticed Yun Changliu arrive, he only turned his head to smile and call out “Sect Leader,” not even giving the newcomer a proper glance before returning his gaze to the book in his hands.

By rights, the Protector’s reaction wasn’t inappropriate at all. Yun Changliu had long since exempted him from those empty courtesies between master and subordinate—if the Protector really did bow and pay respects, it would instead displease the Sect Leader.

However, at this moment the Sect Leader was clearly in a very bad mood.

Seeing him like this, Yun Changliu thought of the empty space on the bed when he woke, thought of himself tossing and turning trapped in a nightmare, and then thought of everything that had happened in early spring—somehow he grew even more vexed.

Here he was, heart burning with anxiety and pain for this person, while this fellow who had thoroughly deceived him was having quite a pleasant time.

The Sect Leader held back, and held back again.

In the end, he still couldn’t hold back.

He lifted his leg and kicked the Protector’s chair.

Bang.

“Sect Leader—”

Guan Wujue nearly dropped the book in his hands and looked up in shock, only then seeing Yun Changliu gazing at him coldly.

The Protector’s heart immediately tightened—what, what, what was this about? He hadn’t provoked the Sect Leader these past few days.

And before their afternoon nap everything had been perfectly fine.

This… surely it couldn’t be crankiness from being woken up, could it?

Guan Wujue was completely baffled, just looking up at Yun Changliu in confusion without speaking.

This was when one could see the difference between the Sect Leader and the Protector.

If Protector Guan was in a bad mood and wanted to find fault with someone, he could find perfectly justified reasons even where there were none; Sect Leader Yun couldn’t bring himself to do such shameless things. Under the Protector’s innocent, questioning gaze, he froze for a long while and not only failed to come up with anything to say, but gradually began to feel that giving in to his emotions and unreasonably taking his anger out on someone was indeed inappropriate.

In the end, Yun Changliu stared at Guan Wujue for a good while, gave a cold snort and turned his head away, then actually just turned around and left by himself.

Guan Wujue: “……”

Sect Leader, did you come into the study specifically just to kick your subordinate’s chair?

As it happened, just as Yun Changliu walked out of the study door, he came face to face with Wen Feng carrying a tea tray. “Sect Leader, Wen Feng has brewed fresh tea, for you and the Protector—”

Well then, here was another one who had deceived him thoroughly since childhood.

Yun Changliu was right in the middle of his anger. He glanced at the attendant, then suddenly flicked his sleeve forcefully—the snow-white wide sleeve struck Wen Feng right at the base of his thigh, neither too light nor too heavy.

Wen Feng’s handsome face froze into stone: “……”

Attendant Wen stood dumbstruck, hands still holding up the tea tray, watching as Yun Changliu casually swept his sleeve back with perfect composure, elegantly and calmly walking away with his hands clasped behind his back.

Wen Feng swallowed dumbly, feeling like ten thousand voices were screaming in chaotic disarray in his head.

He, he, he—

Did he just get spanked by the Sect Leader?!

Why?!

The white-robed attendant rushed into the study in complete breakdown, slamming the tea tray down on the table in front of Guan Wujue. “How did you anger the Sect Leader this time?!”

Guan Wujue, who had watched the whole thing, was already snickering and waving his hands repeatedly. “Don’t wrongly accuse me—I didn’t do anything!”

Wen Feng was exasperated. “If you didn’t, could the Sect Leader possibly take his anger out on me for no reason?!”

Guan Wujue shrugged. “He clearly is taking it out on us for no reason—he just kicked my chair.”

Wen Feng was astonished. “What? The Sect Leader actually lost his temper with you? What’s going on?”

Guan Wujue said, “You know as well as I do how hard it is to guess the Sect Leader’s thoughts. He won’t say a word—how am I supposed to know what’s wrong?”

The red-robed Protector and white-robed attendant just stared at each other blankly for a long while. Finally Guan Wujue gave in first, saying with a bitter smile, “Forget it, forget it. Don’t provoke him for now—I’ll go try to coax him.”

While the Protector and attendant were exchanging these few words in the study, Yun Changliu had already walked alone outside Yangxin Hall.

His emotions never lasted very long. Once outside with the wind blowing on him, his heart gradually calmed.

Having calmed down and thought it over carefully, he found it rather amusing himself.

It was just a dream.

The matter of Guan Wujue—or rather, Ah Ku—being subjected to the Piercing-Heart Blood Extraction, being deceived from childhood to adulthood by those close to him in a coordinated effort, had left him desperate enough to wish for death when the truth was revealed.

To say he wasn’t angry would be a lie; to say he wasn’t pained would be even more false.

But he also knew that these people who had hidden things from him and deceived him were among the very few in this world who truly kept him in their hearts. Right or wrong aside, these people had exhausted every means to wrest a lifeline for him from the merciless hands of fate. He couldn’t easily forgive, but neither could he truly bear grudges.

Moreover, Wujue had drained his very lifeblood to help him remove the shackles of the Fengchun Sheng poison. If he remained forever trapped in the past unable to move forward, wouldn’t that be failing all the pain Wujue had endured?

Yun Changliu took a deep breath. Once Wujue recovered a bit more, perhaps he should go into seclusion to think things through calmly.

Once his anger subsided and his thoughts slowly settled, the Sect Leader began to secretly regret and worry.

Just now, his attitude hadn’t been too harsh, had it?

Would he have frightened him?

What if Wujue had misunderstood something—what would he do then?

Just as Yun Changliu was about to turn back to check on the hall, he heard Guan Wujue’s voice calling him from behind.

“Sect Leader—”

The moment Yun Changliu turned around, he saw Guan Wujue hurrying after him, his steps somewhat unsteady. The Sect Leader’s expression darkened immediately. With a flash of qinggong, he landed beside the Protector and caught him. “Be careful! What are you running for?!”

“You’re asking me? You were the one who lost your temper like that,” Guan Wujue said with somewhat labored breathing and a pale-faced bitter smile. “How could Wujue not—not come after you?”

“You—you’re clearly trying to vex me!” Yun Changliu was both anxious and heartbroken. He quickly drew the man into his embrace and raised his hand to channel internal energy while massaging his chest.

Guan Wujue obediently leaned against the Sect Leader’s shoulder, gradually calming his breathing, and grasped Yun Changliu’s hand to say it was nothing serious. Yun Changliu supported his waist, indicating the Protector should walk back with him. “I’m not angry with you anymore. Come back to the hall with this lord first, then we’ll talk.”

Yun Changliu was worried about the Protector, so he deliberately walked very slowly. After they’d walked about ten steps, Guan Wujue suddenly paused, then asked hesitantly in a soft voice:

“Sect Leader, did you—did you not sleep well just now? Did you have a bad dream?”

Yun Changliu’s long lashes moved slightly as he said calmly, “It’s nothing.”

Seeing this reaction, Guan Wujue immediately guessed roughly what had happened and said guiltily in a soft voice, “Wujue knows he was wrong.”

“The past matters were Wujue’s wrongs against you. This subordinate deserves ten thousand deaths.”

Guan Wujue lowered his eyes. Though his willful actions back then had indeed ultimately saved the person he wanted to save, in the Protector’s view, his defiance and deception were still facts. Saving the Sect Leader’s life and hurting the Sect Leader’s heart were not things that could offset each other.

“I dare not ask for the Sect Leader’s forgiveness, but only beg that you don’t keep it bottled up and harm your health. If you’re unhappy, feel free to scold or hit Wujue a few times—anything is fine.”

Yun Changliu glanced at him but said nothing. The two walked side by side up the long stairs in front of Yangxin Hall. Yun Changliu suddenly bent down and scooped Guan Wujue up around the waist, saying in a low voice, “Since you know you were wrong, the Protector should recover quickly, so this lord can properly punish you.”

Guan Wujue was stunned.

With his head pressed against Yun Changliu’s chest, listening to the Sect Leader’s heartbeat, he momentarily forgot even to refuse.

Yun Changliu was also afraid the Protector would feel uncomfortable being carried around like this. After using qinggong to quickly ascend the stairs, he set him down, then kept an arm around him as they slowly walked inside.

After going round and round, the two still ended up back in the study, sitting down together at the desk.

Guan Wujue looked at that chair and suddenly laughed softly, his eyes brightening slightly as he looked at Yun Changliu. “Sect Leader, actually if you really were angry with Wujue, this subordinate would definitely run over anxiously to coax you. But you soften your heart instead and coax me in return. If this continues, you’ll truly spoil me into becoming arrogant from being favored.”

“In that case, it’s better that this lord coaxes you.” Yun Changliu’s brows and eyes curved silently. He personally took up the teapot on the desk, poured tea into a cup, brought the hot tea to Guan Wujue’s lips, and deliberately softened his voice. “The Protector should be as arrogant as he pleases.”

Guan Wujue blinked and said with reckless courage, laughing, “Wujue wants to drink wine.”

“……”

Crack.

Yun Changliu directly crushed the teacup.

“Aiya, Sect Leader!”

Guan Wujue cried out in alarm and quickly grasped Yun Changliu’s hand, carefully checking that his fingers weren’t cut or scalded before wiping the Sect Leader’s hand with a handkerchief, half crying and half laughing. “Wujue was just joking—what are you getting angry about?”

Yun Changliu said coldly, “Give an inch and you take a mile.”

This person—he shouldn’t have shown him any kindness.

“That time when you were being eroded to the bone by Fengchun Sheng, you could still insist on drinking with this subordinate. How is it that Wujue can’t drink now?”

“This lord was drinking wedding wine. How could it be the same?”

“Sect Leader—” Hearing this, Guan Wujue’s heart suddenly stirred. He suddenly leaned close to Yun Changliu and boldly bit the Sect Leader’s earlobe, lowering his voice. “Speaking of which, we still haven’t consummated our marriage. How about you have another cup of wine with Wujue, and tonight we can—”

Before he could finish, Yun Changliu abruptly stood up, the motion so large he nearly knocked over his chair. The Sect Leader looked as if he’d encountered some terrible flood or savage beast—his expression changed and changed again. He glared fiercely at the Protector and opened his mouth as if wanting to scold him, but couldn’t get out a single word.

Finally he swept his sleeve in fury and actually—actually walked out by himself again.

“Hey! Sect Leader! Sect Leader!”

Guan Wujue called out twice, but this time Yun Changliu completely ignored him. Soon his retreating figure disappeared from view.

In the sunny study of Yangxin Hall, Guan Wujue didn’t chase after him. Alone, he collapsed over the desk laughing until his sides hurt.

Aiya, he’d made him angry and run off again.

Or was it embarrassed him into running?

Surely it couldn’t be that he’d scared him off?

Guan Wujue of course knew Yun Changliu would never agree. After all, given his current physical condition, he’d very likely pass out after doing it once. He himself didn’t mind, but the Sect Leader would definitely not allow it.

But still—he still couldn’t help himself.

The Protector blinked.

Teasing his Sect Leader—why was it just so much fun?

He wondered what sort of appearance the Sect Leader would have when they truly “consummated their marriage” in the future.