Mayfly (5)
No one could have anticipated such a sudden turn of events.
The Fengchun Sheng poison, dormant for over a month, finally erupted again, and this time with unprecedented ferocity. Yun Changliu’s tolerance for pain had already reached levels beyond ordinary imagination—when an arrowhead had pierced his bone previously, he hadn’t even changed expression. Yet this outbreak forced screams of agony from him, showing just how devastating it was!
However, there was only that one cry. The next moment, Yun Changliu viciously bit down on his own right wrist, his face deathly pale as paper, eyes tightly shut, refusing to make another sound.
That hellish, cursed torment descended upon him once more. In his daze, it felt as though someone was pressing a red-hot branding iron against every bone with a sizzling sound, or as if thousands of venomous insects were tearing every inch of his flesh to shreds. He wished only for complete unconsciousness to gain release.
His usually pristine white robes were already rolling in dust and sweat. Yun Changliu could no longer endure it and curled up, his limbs convulsing uncontrollably in a terrifying display.
Several groans of pain were swallowed between his throat and his wrist, now a bloody mess from his own biting. His consciousness blurred from the pain, and he was about to bash his head against the ground!
“Liu’er!!” Yun Guyan had never expected this outcome. It wasn’t that he hadn’t prepared for the worst-case scenario of triggering the Fengchun Sheng poison—he simply never imagined it would be this severe, worse than any previous outbreak!
An expression of unprecedented remorse and pain appeared on the old Sect Leader’s usually stern face. At a complete loss, he threw aside all dignity and lunged forward to gather his eldest son into his arms. Reaching around from behind, he locked his arms tightly around Yun Changliu to prevent him from harming himself, crying out in anguish, “Liu’er… don’t do this! It’s Father’s fault, Father’s fault!”
While channeling his internal energy into Yun Changliu to resist the rampaging poison, he pried open Yun Changliu’s clenched teeth, trying to push his own fingers into his son’s mouth, repeating urgently, “Liu’er, good child, bite me, bite me.”
All his mind could perceive was pain upon pain. Yun Changliu summoned every ounce of willpower to barely reclaim a thread of conscious awareness. With difficulty, he shook his head and used his tongue to push his father’s fingers out.
His hearing had failed him, his ears filled with a constant ringing. He struggled to open his eyes but couldn’t focus them. In his swaying vision, he could only see a familiar red robe kneeling before him, reaching out toward him.
…Wujue.
Yun Changliu called the name softly in his heart.
At this moment, the pain had made him forget everything, including the letter just moments ago. He only thought hazily, following his instincts: Oh no, did I frighten him?
…
The answer to that was certainly yes.
Because even long after these events had passed, Guan Wujue still couldn’t recall exactly what state he’d been in at that moment. Boundless fear, self-blame, regret, and more emotions of despair that even he couldn’t name—all burst forth like a breaking dam the instant he watched Yun Changliu collapse before his eyes.
Yet the Four Directions Protector lived up to his title. Even though he had completely broken down at that moment, loathing himself enough to want death, his body still moved. He staggered forward and knelt before Yun Changliu, reaching out without thinking to channel some internal energy to the Sect Leader.
However, the moment he touched Yun Changliu’s fingertips, the Sect Leader seemed to suddenly regain some clarity and forcefully shoved him away.
Tormented as he was by the poison outbreak, Yun Changliu couldn’t possibly have much strength left. Yet Guan Wujue was actually pushed over, falling back to sit on the ground.
The Protector looked up in disbelief, revealing an expression both lost and dismayed.
Yun Changliu gasped for breath then held it, struggling for a long time before he could speak normally. Summoning what little internal energy remained, his hoarse voice echoed out beyond Yanyun Palace. “Yin Ghosts, appear!!”
Soon, four black shadows flashed forth.
The black-clad, black-armored Yin Ghosts rushed into the palace and knelt before the Sect Leader.
Yun Guyan was both alarmed and heartbroken. “Liu’er! You mustn’t use more internal energy…”
Yun Changliu frowned in agony, his fingers curled tightly. Each word he spoke now was self-torture, but his voice, though trembling, remained crystal clear. “The Four Directions Protector has defied orders and disobeyed… Immediately imprison him in the Punishment Hall’s Death Row… to await judgment!”
Guan Wujue’s eyes stared blankly at his Sect Leader, unable to believe it. He opened his mouth but no sound came out.
Defied orders and disobeyed? That’s right.
Imprison in the Punishment Hall’s Death Row? As it should be.
But, but…
The Yin Ghosts received their orders and moved swiftly. In the blink of an eye, sharp, gleaming sword blades were pressed against the Protector’s neck. Two Yin Ghosts flashed forward, each gripping one of Guan Wujue’s shoulders and pressing down.
“Take him away!” Yun Changliu simply closed his eyes, refusing to look at the Four Directions Protector’s expression. “Without this lord’s command… no one… is permitted to release him!”
Having forced out these words with great effort, Yun Changliu finally ran out of strength and collapsed backward into Yun Guyan’s embrace.
Watching the Sect Leader’s breathing grow increasingly chaotic, Guan Wujue felt as though his internal organs were being torn apart. He struggled violently against the Yin Ghosts’ restraints, his eyes instantly turning red as he roared, “Get away!! Let me save him first!”
—He knew his crimes were unforgivable ten thousand times over, and he would willingly accept any harsh punishment, but not now!! Not now!!
Guan Wujue had truly gone mad with desperation. Heedless of everything, he lunged straight toward the sword blades, startling the Yin Ghosts into quickly withdrawing their swords. Even so, they still opened a large gash on the Protector’s neck, blood immediately gushing out.
Guan Wujue had no thought for himself. He staggered forward and knelt before Yun Changliu, his hands quickly sealing several of the Sect Leader’s acupoints.
He was about to channel internal energy into Yun Changliu when suddenly there was a dull pain at the back of his head, as if he’d been struck with a hammer.
His consciousness rapidly withdrew.
Guan Wujue collapsed in shock.
In his rapidly darkening vision, he dimly saw Yun Changliu’s ice-cold hand slip weakly from the back of his neck and fall to the ground, twitching slightly.
In the moment before his consciousness completely vanished, he belatedly understood something.
He, Guan Wujue, had roamed the jianghu for many years. Those who could injure him with their skills were few and far between, and those who could threaten his life could be counted on one hand.
But if it was Yun Changliu, as long as it was Yun Changliu—
Even with only enough strength left to lift a hand, taking his life would be more than easy enough.
…..
When Guan Wujue regained consciousness, his surroundings were frighteningly damp and cold. He was lying on the ground. Opening his eyes, he saw half of a dark ceiling overhead and iron bars not far away, with thick chains hanging from them.
The Protector’s gaze was dim. His eyelids had barely opened for an instant before they wearily closed again.
…So he really had been locked in the Death Row.
In the five years since Guan Wujue left Ghost Gate to follow Yun Changliu, he had actually never truly been punished in the Punishment Hall. However, being on good terms with Punishment Hall Master Xiao Donghe, he would occasionally come by for entertainment, watching the Left Envoy interrogate prisoners.
Unlike what most people imagined, the Punishment Hall’s Death Row was not bloody or filthy. Those imprisoned here were either deeply guilty yet extraordinarily positioned criminals from within the sect, or key figures from other factions with far-reaching implications—all cases that absolutely could not go wrong.
Therefore, this place bearing the name “Death Row” actually had none of those things used to torment criminals. Only oppressive and uneasy silence permeated the small space.
However, even this silence was broken in the next moment.
“Well now, awake?”
A familiar voice rang out. Guan Wujue’s eyes flew open. Turning his head to look carefully outside, he was surprised to discover a blue-robed figure sitting with his back to the cell door.
Xiao Donghe, Left Envoy Xiao, turned around with a helpless expression. “I say, Protector Guan, look at yourself. Being ambushed by the Sect Leader when he was suffering from a Fengchun Sheng outbreak is one thing, but to have been unconscious for most of the day before waking up—aren’t you embarrassed?”
—Most of the day!?
Guan Wujue started violently, crossing the distance to the cell door in two steps. His face was deathly pale, his knuckles protruding white as he gripped the iron bars, his voice hoarse. “It’s already been that long? How is the Sect Leader!?”
Xiao Donghe shook his head. “No news has come yet, but right now, no news is good news. Don’t panic.”
Guan Wujue’s strength drained from his body, and he slid down along the bars to kneel.
Of course he wouldn’t believe Xiao Donghe’s comforting nonsense. If the Sect Leader had turned from danger to safety, how could no one have informed the Left Envoy? But now there was no news… it had already been most of the day, and still no news!
Xiao Donghe stood up and dusted off his robes, crossing his arms as he stared at Guan Wujue with a snort of laughter. “Hey, do you know where this is, ancestor?”
Guan Wujue’s eyes were unfocused, slumped there like a motionless puppet. Only after a long while did he move his pitch-black pupils, weakly uttering two words, “Death Row.”
“Then do you know what final order the Sect Leader gave when he sent you here?”
This time Guan Wujue simply didn’t respond.
Xiao Donghe laughed angrily, heavily slapping the cell door and making the chains clatter loudly. “Don’t know, do you? You think I’m so idle I’d guard you in this godforsaken place for nearly two hours!?”
Guan Wujue froze.
Xiao Donghe ignored him, counting on his fingers indignantly. “No torture, no shackles, no visitors, the Punishment Hall Master personally supervises, everything awaits the Sect Leader’s judgment!”
“All news from Yanyun Palace has been sealed off by the Sect Leader. I’m completely in the dark now! But at least I know one thing—throughout history, you’re the only one, Protector Guan, who’s ever sat in the Punishment Hall’s Death Row this comfortably!”
Saying this, Left Envoy Xiao pressed his forehead and heaved a long sigh, making a show of deep contemplation. “I really don’t understand…”
“What exactly are you and the Sect Leader doing with each other day after day? Hmm?”
“Don’t tell me you two are using my Punishment Hall as your lovers’ playground!”