WJ Chapter 21

Yin Qilei (1)

Yin Qilei, at the southern face of Mount Nan.

How could one abandon such a place,

and who would dare be idle?

——

About an hour later.

Just as Wen Feng stepped out of the Sect Leader’s bedroom door, he heard the buzzing sound of whispered conversations from outside.

News of the Sect Leader’s poison flare-up had already spread. By now, basically all the important figures within the sect who could come had come, and those unable to come in person had all sent deputies to inquire about the situation.

However, most people had been stopped by the Zhuhuo Guards at the entrance to Yangxin Hall. Those actually qualified to enter Yangxin Hall and wait in the outer chamber for news could, in fact, be counted on one hand.

Wen Feng swept his gaze across the room. Left Envoy Xiao Donghe and Right Envoy Hua Wan were conversing in low voices with worried expressions. Ghost Gate Sect Master Xue Duxing, Elder Xue, had always been busy with official duties and hadn’t come this time; instead, Vice Gate Master Shan Yi had come, also looking anxious.

The old Sect Leader’s attendant Wen Huan had also arrived. Wen Feng stepped forward and bowed, calling out softly, “Father.”

Wen Huan waved his hand. “Yanyun Palace has already received word. How is the Sect Leader?”

Wen Feng was about to respond when he heard a commotion from outside. Guan Wujue entered with a dark expression, while Yangxin Hall’s young maidservant Jin Lin hurried alongside him with quick little steps, whispering in the Protector’s ear.

The Protector’s temper at this moment was extraordinarily fierce. He could be heard walking and speaking in furious anger. “……What, the young lady wants to see the Sect Leader? Tell her to get lost!……She’s crying? Drag her outside the hall to cry, and when she faints from crying, drag her away!”

Jin Lin stammered hesitantly, “But just now, Madam Lin also came……”

Guan Wujue gave a cold laugh, his dark eyes narrowing into slits as a sharp, chilling light flashed through them. He said word by word, “Even if the Heavenly King himself came, he’s not allowed in! Have the Zhuhuo Guards at the hall entrance guard strictly—anyone who dares disturb the Sect Leader’s rest should be beaten out!”

Jin Lin shuddered, curtsied, and retreated.

Guan Wujue entered the inner chamber, closed his eyes, and leaned against the corner wall without making a sound. Wen Feng walked over and patted his shoulder. “Ha, what imposing air the Protector displays.”

“……The people outside were too noisy. I had them all disperse.” Guan Wujue took a deep breath, his pale fingers brushing away Wen Feng’s hand before pressing hard between his brows. “How is the Sect Leader’s condition? Why hasn’t that old codger Guan Muyan come out yet?”

For a moment, Wen Feng seemed to see unbearable exhaustion in his refined features, but in the next instant it was completely concealed.

Wen Feng carefully scrutinized Guan Wujue and said, “Elder Guan said there’s no danger this time, but as for what will happen during the next attack, that’s hard to say. He wants to continue watching over the Sect Leader to observe the situation……Can you still hold on?”

Guan Wujue lowered his head and sighed, his voice somewhat hoarse. “What could be wrong with me? I’m just frightened in retrospect……Tch, don’t help me up, I’m really fine!”

“What do you mean ‘fine’? You haven’t seen how pale your face is. Do we need another sick person at a time like this?”

Wen Feng paid him no mind and helped Guan Wujue into a chair, fussing over him like an old woman with worried advice. “You should take better care of yourself. Don’t let the Sect Leader wake up and feel heartache over you.”

“It’s fine, I know what I’m doing.” Guan Wujue shook his head and turned to look at Wen Huan. “Wen Daren……”

“Wen Huan understands.” Wen Huan smiled and nodded. “I will persuade Madam Lin to return. The Protector can rest assured.”

“Thank you.” Guan Wujue raised his hand in salute, thinking to himself that talking with perceptive people was indeed convenient. “I’m grateful.”

Wen Huan returned the salute and calmly stepped out of Yangxin Hall.

Speaking of this Madam Lin, Lin Wanxia—she was no simple character. When she became engaged to the young Yun Guyan years ago, she was barely of marriageable age, the young miss of the Yulin Hall Lin family, renowned in the martial world for their hidden weapons and lightness skills.

Back then, Lin Wanxia was graceful and beautiful, with a proud and fiery temperament, infatuated with Yun Guyan who was six years her senior and had not yet succeeded as Sect Leader of Zhuyin Sect. The young lady who had grown up in a martial arts family was quite bold, publicly declaring she would marry no one but him, even begging her parents to arrange this engagement.

By rights, these two were well-matched in talent and family background, and betrothals between martial arts families were the most common thing. Who could have known that several years later, Yun Guyan would fall truly in love with a gentle and ordinary qin player? Lin Wanxia was extremely unwilling and filled with hatred, feeling insulted and having lost all face. She once vowed she and Yun Guyan could never coexist in this life, causing quite an uproar at the time.

But through some twist of fate, Lin Wanxia ultimately became Yun Guyan’s wife, the one and only Sect Leader’s wife of Zhuyin Sect.

Madam Lin had always been domineering, and in recent years had increasingly developed a tendency toward harshness. A young maidservant like Jin Lin naturally couldn’t handle her. Although Wen Huan held no real power, he had personally attended the old Sect Leader for decades. Basically, his words represented Yun Guyan’s intentions, and even the current Sect Leader had to give him some face. Having him step forward was ideal.

Guan Wujue watched Wen Huan’s retreating figure and breathed a slight sigh of relief, leaning back in his chair. Suddenly, a pair of snow-white, delicate hands appeared before him, holding a cup of hot tea. Ten slender fingers painted with red polish—the color was quite captivating.

Guan Wujue’s unfocused gaze sharpened as he traced the henna-painted hands upward to see Zhuyin Sect’s Right Envoy, heavily made up like a peony, smiling at him. “The Protector has worked hard. Would you like some tea to moisten your throat?”

Guan Wujue looked up with a clear smile. “If it isn’t Right Envoy Hua. Thank you.”

Zhuyin Sect’s Left Envoy Xiao Donghe oversaw punishments, while Right Envoy Hua Wan handled intelligence. This group was all intimately familiar with each other. Guan Wujue accepted the tea without ceremony and drank several mouthfuls. Wen Feng at the side wanted to speak but hesitated, finally waiting until Guan Wujue finished drinking before saying, “Cough, if Wen Feng remembers correctly, this tea should be the Sect Leader’s……”

Guan Wujue held the teacup and took another sip. When his lips left the rim, they finally carried some moist luster. “So what? The Sect Leader isn’t so petty as to refuse even a cup of tea.”

“No……” Wen Feng said with difficulty. “This teacup……the Sect Leader just touched it with his lips this morning……”

Guan Wujue: “……”

The Four Directions Protector’s brow twitched as he set the teacup down on the nearby table with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, speaking with false sincerity:

“……Right Envoy Hua, Sister Wan, we all know your mother’s family has been matchmakers for generations. You couldn’t inherit your mother’s profession, so it’s understandable that you’re unwilling. However, anyone with eyes can see that the Sect Leader and I won’t work out. If you must play matchmaker, why not consider this newly arrived Young Master Ah Ku……”

“……”

The perceptive attendant Wen felt that his eyes had been “enlightened” to near blindness by the Sect Leader and Protector these past two days.

Hua Wan shook her head and laughed, the pearl-adorned hairpins in her cloud-like coiffure jingling. “Oh my, Protector Guan, those words……why do you seem more like a matchmaker than I do?”

Seeing the lively conversation here, Xiao Donghe also came over. The Left Envoy crossed his arms and eyed the Protector sideways for a long time before finally bursting into laughter. “Now that you mention it, the ‘red’ part is there, but as for this ‘lady’ part……”

Hua Wan covered her mouth and laughed as she picked up the thread. “Our Protector is naturally beautiful. Let this older sister dress you up, and surely you’d surpass those vulgar powdered women a hundredfold.”

Ghost Gate’s Vice Gate Master Shan Yi finally couldn’t resist sidling over. Actually, he was somewhat older than Guan Wujue and the others, but because Xue Duxing, Elder Xue, was a stern-faced, humorless King of Hell, Shan Yi was usually stifled at Ghost Gate. Whenever he saw these young people, he couldn’t help but join in the teasing. “Oh my, Right Envoy Hua’s disguise techniques have become increasingly exquisite over the years. Young Protector might as well give it a try—who knows, there might be a pleasant surprise……”

Guan Wujue was teased by this group with their comments and looks until his temple throbbed in anger. He was about to slam the table and rise, but remembering the Sect Leader was still sleeping inside, he restrained himself and said coldly, “Everyone……is so free, are you?”

“Since the Sect Leader is fine, why haven’t you dispersed yet? Are you waiting for Yangxin Hall to serve dinner, hmm?”

Seeing the Four Directions Protector getting annoyed and starting to drive them out, the group hastily laughed and took their leave. Wen Feng saw them out of Yangxin Hall one by one, taking the opportunity to look outside from the entrance. Sure enough, he saw no sign of the wife or young lady, so Wen Huan must have already persuaded them to return.

Before long, the outer chamber also quieted down, leaving only Guan Wujue and Wen Feng.

Guan Wujue drained the remaining tea in his cup, stood up, and quietly glanced into the inner room.

Yun Changliu slept deeply on the bed, a section of his long wrist extending from beneath the covers and resting loosely on the bed’s edge. Old Divine Physician Guan sat by the bedside taking his pulse, occasionally bending over his desk to write rapidly—probably racking his brains for a new medicinal formula again.

He watched for a while when the white-robed attendant beside him suddenly asked in a low voice, “Protector, let me ask you—what about that medicine person you brought back? Shouldn’t he come in useful right now? Where is he?”

Guan Wujue said, “Not yet. The medicine person needs to take medicine for a period of time to nourish the blood. The medicinal properties in his blood are still weak—not much use.”

Wen Feng’s expression turned ugly. “……You lied to me?”

Guan Wujue laughed, “What are you saying? When did I ever lie to you?”

Wen Feng immediately grew angry. “That day you returned, on Wolong Platform! Didn’t you say you brought him back because the Sect Leader needed his blood? If I hadn’t thought he could save the Sect Leader, I would have already……”

“Of course he can save the Sect Leader, and it must be him—it just needs a little more time. Don’t be anxious……”

Guan Wujue pulled Wen Feng aside and patted him reassuringly. “It’s also time for me to take my leave. I’ll have to trouble you with the Sect Leader.”

Wen Feng showed surprise. “You……won’t stay here and watch over him?”

“I need to leave the sect for a while. Originally, I came today to take my leave of the Sect Leader……”

“What are you saying? Leave the sect?”

Wen Feng was even more shocked. The Sect Leader had suddenly experienced a poison flare-up after a year, and at a time like this, Guan Wujue actually wanted to leave. He couldn’t help but be suspicious. “What are you going to do? At a time like this, what could be more important than the Sect Leader that requires you to go personally?”

Guan Wujue smiled. “To find medicine.”

“What medicine doesn’t even our sect’s Medicine Gate have?”

“Naturally, medicine that can save the Sect Leader.”

Guan Wujue glanced into the inner room again and said softly, “You should know that relying on the medicine person’s blood can only suppress the Fengchun Sheng poison. After several more years, it will still……Some time ago, I promised the old Sect Leader that I would ensure the Sect Leader lives to a hundred.”

Wen Feng drew in a sharp breath. These successive shocks finally transformed the expression on his face into complete astonishment.

——Back when the Sect Leader was still the Young Sect Leader, he had once used a medicine person’s heart blood to detoxify. At that time, almost everyone thought the Fengchun Sheng poison had been completely eliminated, yet only nine years later……Fengchun Sheng flared up again, catching everyone completely off guard.

Fengchun Sheng, Fengchun Sheng—when spring winds blow, it grows again.

If not eradicated at the root, how could one speak of living to a hundred!

“You……is what you’re saying true?” Wen Feng excitedly grabbed Guan Wujue’s sleeve. “Could it be you’ve found medicine that can eradicate Fengchun Sheng!?”

The white-robed attendant was both shocked and delighted. “If there truly is such medicine, even if we must exhaust the entire sect’s resources……Does the Sect Leader know about this? What about Elder Guan and the old Sect Leader? Oh right, where exactly are you going……”

“——Don’t be anxious.” Guan Wujue gripped Wen Feng’s wrist, his gaze growing serious as he said solemnly, “Don’t be anxious. You must trust me.”

“Beyond Mount Shenlie, past Red River to the south, the medical family Duanmu clan’s Wanci Manor……self-styled ‘He Who Mocks the King of Hell.’ Wanci Manor has three hundred years of heritage and has always been renowned for collecting the world’s rare medicines, rare poisons, and rare prescriptions.”

“There……I will find what I seek.”