WJ Chapter 11

Green Robe (4)

Inside Yanyun Palace, Yun Guyan scrutinized Guan Wujue.

He turned the half piece of dragon-and-phoenix white jade pendant over and over in his hands, asking with feigned casualness, “Heard you brought back one of those medicine people from back then.”

Guan Wujue shook his head and sighed. “Old Sect Leader, every person I’ve encountered since returning has asked me this question. The next sentence is either cursing me for being insane or asking what I mean by it.”

Yun Guyan raised his eyelids slightly. “Since that’s the case, why doesn’t the Protector come clean early on?”

Guan Wujue tilted his head in thought, putting on a very serious expression.

Then he raised his head and replied, his expression and voice utterly calm:

“Actually, this subordinate did it to find the Sect Leader something to hold onto. The Sect Leader’s temperament is too indifferent and detached. He’s also forgotten everything before age fifteen and has never tasted love or hate, so presumably his attachment to this world isn’t strong…”

Yun Guyan: “……”

As the Old Sect Leader’s expression grew increasingly dark, the Four Directions Protector calmly continued his nonsense. “The Fengchun Sheng poison is very difficult to endure. Perhaps if the Sect Leader finds the person he likes and gains something to hold onto, he won’t be willing to cross that Bridge of No Return.”

Yun Guyan stared at the red-robed Protector with an eerie look for a long while before slowly saying, “You won’t tell Guan Muyan the truth, and you won’t tell this lord either?” To the point of coming up with such a clumsy excuse—are you playing games with children?

Though both used the self-address “this lord,” when Yun Changliu said it, it was merely a casual, cloud-like form of address; however, when it came from Yun Guyan’s mouth, it carried the dignity and killing intent of a mountain looking down from on high, with an extraordinary power of intimidation.

“Wouldn’t dare.” Guan Wujue lowered his eyes and knelt on one knee. “This subordinate may deceive others, but would never dare to fool the Old Sect Leader.”

Yun Guyan nodded with satisfaction. “Then speak.”

The Four Directions Protector was clearly someone who took a mile when given an inch. As the Old Sect Leader’s expression softened slightly, his audacious nature revealed itself again. “…To take that medicine person’s blood to detoxify and save the Sect Leader’s life?”

Yun Guyan’s gaze was piercing as he pressed, “Is this true? After all this time, can that medicine person’s blood still be effective?”

Guan Wujue: “It’s false. It can’t.”

“Will you speak the truth or not!?”

“I already spoke the truth, but the Old Sect Leader didn’t believe it,” the Protector said earnestly, even looking extremely innocent. “To find the Sect Leader something to hold onto…”

This person was truly toying with him!

Yun Guyan’s face immediately darkened, and he roared in fury. “Insolent wretch!”

He suddenly stood up. His wide sleeve swept out with a roll, and terrifyingly powerful energy carried the force of splitting mountains and stirring waves as it thundered directly toward Guan Wujue.

Guan Wujue neither dodged nor evaded.

Yun Guyan’s power was incredibly domineering. After taking that strike head-on, Guan Wujue’s body swayed to the side, and a line of glaring crimson blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Wen Huan, who had been standing behind Yun Guyan like a shadow all along, cried out in alarm. “Old Sect Leader, you must not!”

Guan Wujue struggled to prop up his upper body and slowly raised his head. One hand clutched tightly at his chest, his face pale as he gasped for several breaths before recovering. The blood-stained corner of his lips even revealed a slight smile. “Cough… Wujue… thanks the Old Sect Leader for showing mercy.”

He had made no defense whatsoever just now. If Yun Guyan had truly struck in anger, that blow could have at least cost him half his life; and if Yun Guyan had used his full power, he would probably already be lifeless by now.

Yun Guyan stared at him for a long while before slowly sitting back down. The violent internal energy around him gradually calmed from raging waves to a still lake. He turned his head to the side with a gloomy expression, half his face hidden in darkness, his features unclear. “…Since you know this lord has no desire to harm you, then you should also understand that for Liu’er’s sake, this lord has never scrupled about the means.”

Guan Wujue used the back of his hand to wipe away the blood at the corner of his lips. “Wujue understands.”

Having said that, the red-robed Protector smiled again, this time with a hint of improper playfulness. His already handsome features were suddenly colored with dazzling brilliance.

He used a voice as thin as a mosquito’s whisper, speaking to himself as he softly uttered four words. “…I’m the same.”

When he said those four words, his expression was so profound and fervent, like magma surging beneath thick, silent mountain ranges—vast, scorching, and sincere. Unfortunately, Guan Wujue had his head lowered, hiding this smile in the darkness where no one could see it.

Yun Guyan drooped his eyelids, using his fingers to trace the patterns on the jade pendant.

After a long while, he finally spoke, “…Since the Protector refuses to speak even unto death, this lord won’t force you.”

“This lord knows you have your own thoughts.”

“But it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re loyal to Liu’er, no matter how much you stir things up, this lord can tolerate it.”

“Wujue thanks the Old Sect Leader for his magnanimity.” Guan Wujue bowed his head deeply, thanking him from the bottom of his heart. “Wujue will ensure the Sect Leader lives a hundred years.”

The Old Sect Leader snorted and raised one hand, waving it as if shooing away a fly. “Get lost.”

Guan Wujue didn’t rush to leave. He still remembered what Guan Muyan had told him. “Old Sect Leader, please wait. I heard that Wanci Manor… the Duanmu family knows about what happened back then?”

Yun Guyan narrowed his eyes and sneered coldly. “So Guan Muyan told you everything. That mouth of his truly has no restraint. Handle it as you see fit. Go take a look if you want to, or don’t bother if you’re too lazy. I doubt Duanmu Nanting can stir up much trouble anyway.”

Guan Wujue asked again, “During the year this subordinate was away from the Sect, within the Sect…”

Yun Guyan waved his hand. “This lord no longer manages affairs. Go ask Liu’er!”

Guan Wujue fell silent. If the Sect Leader would tell him, he wouldn’t have needed to come to the Old Sect Leader to probe for information.

Not only would the Sect Leader not tell him, but the second day after returning to the Sect, he had privately sought out Wen Feng to ask a few questions about the Sect Leader’s recent condition, only for the white-robed attendant to apologetically say, “The Sect Leader won’t permit me to say anything,” leaving him completely without recourse.

In the end, Guan Wujue could only helplessly bow once and withdraw.

…..

A moment later, only two people remained in Yanyun Palace once more. Wen Huan still held that single candle, gazing at Guan Wujue’s departing figure, and sighed gently. “He’s a good child. Deep down, the Old Sect Leader still can’t bear to part with him.”

“Isn’t that so?” Yun Guyan shook his head with a scoffing laugh. “What a pity, what a pity.”

He reached out to grasp Wen Huan’s arm, drawing him a step closer. Then, extending his fingers, he extinguished the flickering candlelight atop the lamp in that person’s hands.

Yanyun Palace once again plunged into complete darkness.

After a long while, Yun Guyan suddenly said to Wen Huan. “Has it been… a long time since this lord played the qin?”

Wen Huan replied, “Since the last time the Sect Leader’s poison flared up, the Old Sect Leader hasn’t touched Madam’s qin.”

Yun Guyan said: “Bring the qin.”

“……”

Wen Huan fell into a very strange silence for a moment before saying, “…Yes.”

After a while, ghostly wailing and wolf-howling “qin music” echoed through the pitch-black Yanyun Palace.

Halting and stuttering, hoarse and grating, harsh and discordant.

Practically every note that emerged could bring one to tears.

Yun Guyan “played” with soaring spirit for quite a while, the melody growing increasingly torturous to the ears. Perhaps even Wen Huan couldn’t bear it any longer, as he stepped forward to advise, “The Old Sect Leader hasn’t seen the Sect Leader for over half a month now. Why not have the Sect Leader play Madam’s music next time?”

“What’s this, what’s this? Can this lord not play his own woman’s music?” Yun Guyan glared at Wen Huan in feigned anger.

He then set aside the qin and laughed in the pervasive night. “But what you say is right. Naturally Liu’er plays better, not inferior to his mother.”

As he laughed, the Old Sect Leader’s gaze grew distant, as if it had settled into thousands of mountains and rivers worn by vicissitudes. And at the horizon where mountains and waters met, a water-blue figure seemed to linger still.

“If only… Ah Cai could hear it too. That would be wonderful.”