Chapter 30

Everyone still remembered the sudden turn of events on the day of the ceremony; four people from the Grand Beginning Abbey died in succession, and the Six Sects of Beichen were utterly disgraced.

Afterward, the various sects left one by one. However, Wu Gang and Wu Xiong were severely injured by the 'Thunderous Tempest' and couldn't leave on their own. If they were handed over to the Grand Beginning Abbey, they might face vengeful retaliation from Qiu Yuanfeng's faction. Thus, Qi Yunke let them stay and recuperate in the sect's guest quarters.

And these courtyards, designated for outside guests, were situated between Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff and Twilight Palace.

Chang and Cai arrived in a moment. By this time, the guest courtyards were already deserted, with only a few servants who hadn't managed to leave in time hiding scattered about. Cai Zhao pulled a trembling servant out from behind a door and asked where the Wu brothers had gone.

The servant was still in a state of shock and knew nothing, only saying that the Wu brothers had gone out after lunch and had not yet returned.

Cai Zhao said to Chang Ning, "Since we can't find out their whereabouts, let's just shout everywhere, announcing that these two are traitors, and tell everyone to be on guard."

Young Master Chang was a man of decorum; how could he shout everywhere like a street peddler? Just as he was about to correct the girl's 'brilliant idea', a young servant boy crawled out from under a table and said timidly, "...Are you talking about Master Wu and Second Master Wu?"

Cai Zhao was overjoyed, "What do you know? Spit it out!"

The young servant didn't actually know much, he had just overheard a few things while delivering water and charcoal to the rooms.

He said, "Steward Wang asked Master Wu, 'Besides fresh flowers, fruits, and a tube of incense, what else do you need?' Master Wu said that was more than enough. Steward Wang then asked if he should bring a sacrificial table over, but Second Master Wu said there was no need, 'Eldest Martial Brother was always bold and open-minded in life, never fussing over trivial details. Just bowing in the direction of his passing is enough.'"

Cai Zhao and Chang Ning looked at each other. This was clearly a final farewell from the Wu brothers before they 'took action'.

"Is that all? Anything else?" Cai Zhao wouldn't give up.

The young servant thought hard. "Oh, Steward Wang also asked if he should continue brewing and sending the medicinal soup today. Second Master Wu said it wasn't necessary, as he and his brother had almost recovered and it was time for them to leave. Steward Wang said he would go inform the steward on Wind and Cloud Peak to prepare horses and a carriage for the two of them. But Master Wu said there was no rush, that they had to bid a proper farewell to the Sect Master before they left..." He could still remember the strange smile on Wu Gang's face when he said that.

Cai Zhao let out a cry and turned to run.

Filled with regret, she couldn't help but complain to Chang Ning, "See, see, I told you we should have gone to Twilight Palace! In the end, we still have to go. We should have just listened to me from the start!"

Chang Ning followed beside her at an unhurried pace, leisurely saying, "If Zhaozhao is such a prophet, then you should have saved the effort of delivering soup and come to capture the Wu brothers instead."

"You just can't let this go, can you?"

"Those who are betrothed, regardless of gender, should behave with more propriety. Don't go around delivering and drinking soup for no reason. If Heroine Cai were alive, would she approve of you doing this?"

He even brought up Cai Pingshu. Cai Zhao had no choice but to shut her mouth resentfully.

When they arrived before Twilight Palace, it seemed the great battle was already over.

A group of disciples was carrying out corpses one by one on stretchers. Among the dead were gray-clothed men in painted masks as well as sect disciples.

Chang and Cai walked all the way in, seeing disciples supporting each other as they came out to get their injuries treated. Chang Ning stopped one disciple, "Are all the traitors dead?"

The disciple replied, "The traitors in Twilight Palace have all been eliminated. Master ordered us to clean up first and let the injured senior brothers go for treatment. About ten of them fled towards the outer sect, and Senior Brother Song is leading people in pursuit."

Chang Ning deliberately looked at Cai Zhao with a smile, "I told you, with only twenty or thirty people, they couldn't stir up much of a storm."

Just then, a stretcher came towards them, and lying on it was none other than Zeng Dalou. Cai Zhao was scared to death and immediately rushed over, tears nearly falling, "Eldest Martial Brother, what's wrong with you? Are you dead? Are you okay? Wake up!"

Chang Ning, listening from the side, wanted to laugh.

Zeng Dalou was nearly sent to his grave by the girl's shrieking. He tried to sit up but was unable to, so he could only raise a hand and wave it weakly, "Don't worry, don't worry, I'm not dead, just a little injured."

"You scared me to death!" Cai Zhao clutched her chest, her eyes red. "All those stretchers before were carrying corpses. When I suddenly saw you lying on a stretcher being carried out, Eldest Martial Brother, I thought you were a corpse too!"

Zeng Dalou gave a bitter smile, "My skills are lacking, I've brought shame upon Master."

Cai Zhao had no time to console him and quickly asked, "Eldest Martial Brother, have you seen Seniors Wu Gang and Wu Xiong?"

Zeng Dalou was taken aback for a moment, "They came to bid farewell to Master just now. Not long after they arrived, the Demonic Cult traitors broke in..."

"Where are they now?" Chang Ning frowned.

"Still talking in Master's room..."

Before Zeng Dalou could finish, he saw a flash before his eyes. His little junior sister, like a fluttering, departing flower, rushed inside with incredible speed. Following her like a shadow was a figure in wide sleeves and a long robe—naturally, it was Chang Ning.

Zeng Dalou was stunned, "...Chang Ning's martial arts... are actually that high." This was the first time he had seen Chang Ning display his skills after his recovery.

Cai Zhao moved like a bolt of lightning, rushing straight to the side chamber of Twilight Palace's main hall. Qi Yunke's room door happened to be ajar. Through the open door, she could see him bent over his desk, looking for something. Wu Xiong stood three or four steps behind him, his right hand slightly raised.

Seeing this, Cai Zhao was so frightened she nearly stumbled, screaming, "Master, watch out behind you! He's a traitor..."

The moment Wu Xiong saw Cai Zhao bursting in like a whirlwind, he seemed to understand that he was about to be exposed. The palm of his right hand flashed, and he thrust it with lightning speed towards the vital acupoint on Qi Yunke's back!

The instant Qi Yunke heard Cai Zhao's cry, he turned and pushed out a palm without a second thought. In that slight turn, the sharp blade in Wu Xiong's hand went astray, only piercing Qi Yunke's upper left arm. Wu Xiong, on the other hand, was sent flying by an incomparably powerful palm force, his internal organs instantly ruptured. He spat out a mouthful of blood and died.

Qi Yunke took two steps back, clutching his left arm.

Cai Zhao entered the room and supported him, her body trembling, "Ma-Master, you..."

Before she could say a fourth word, Chang Ning also flew in, his right hand striking a series of acupoints on Qi Yunke's left arm like he was rapidly plucking a pipa.

Before Cai Zhao could react, Qi Yunke had already torn open the sleeve of his left arm. Black blood oozed from the wound. Cai Zhao cried out, "The dagger is poisoned!"

Qi Yunke said in a deep voice, "It's nothing. The dagger didn't go deep, and Chang Ning has sealed my acupoints. I just need to force the poison out."

Cai Zhao quickly helped him to sit down in a lounge chair, and Qi Yunke immediately sat cross-legged to meditate.

Chang Ning stood to the side, both reserved and proud, "Perhaps I should assist the Sect Master in expelling the poison."

Qi Yunke's face was pale, but his smile remained gentle, "No need. You've only recently recovered and shouldn't rashly use your true qi. Zhaozhao, go get that bottle from the bookshelf... Zhaozhao? What's wrong with you?" He saw the girl staring blankly at Wu Xiong's corpse on the floor.

Fear gripped Cai Zhao's heart, "Wu Xiong is here, but where's Wu Gang?"

At these words, even Chang Ning was startled. Qi Yunke slapped his thigh and said, "This is bad! Just now, Yuzhi went to hunt down the remaining traitors from the Demonic Cult, and Wu Gang said he had fully recovered and wanted to lend Yuzhi a hand—he went with him..."

As he said the words 'lend a hand', Cai Zhao had already snatched the dagger from the floor and flown out of the room like a drifting petal, leaving behind a sentence, "I'm going to find Third Senior Brother. Master, you focus on your recovery..."

As Qi Yunke said 'went with him', Chang Ning also strode to follow Cai Zhao, disappearing through the doorway in an instant.

The disciples who rushed in upon hearing the commotion only saw their Sect Master sitting dazedly in the lounge chair, the sleeve of his left arm torn, revealing a bloody wound, and the breathless body of Wu Xiong in the corner of the room.

...

In the eastern courtyard of Twilight Palace, the fighting had also nearly concluded. Under the vigorous pursuit of the crowd, all the traitors who had attacked the Qingque Sect this time were finally killed.

Song Yuzhi's long arms stretched gracefully, and he flicked the White Rainbow longsword in a beautiful arc. Droplets of blood slid off the blade, leaving a string of red dew on the white marble tiles. After nearly an hour of fighting, the handsome young man's jade-like face was inevitably stained with specks of crimson.

He sheathed White Rainbow behind his back and pulled Azure Rainbow from a corpse. Just as he was about to wipe it clean, he saw Wu Gang clutching his chest and leaning against a tree, gasping for breath as if he had suffered an internal injury.

At this moment, the surrounding disciples were either busy helping their injured fellow disciples leave or inspecting the corpses.

Song Yuzhi hesitated for a moment, then walked over to support Wu Gang, saying gently, "Thank you for your help this time, Senior Wu. Please go to the Apothecary to treat your injuries."

Wu Gang nodded with a smile on his face, "I can walk by myself. I'll trouble Young Hero Song to lead the way."

Seeing that Wu Gang was very proud and unwilling to accept help, Song Yuzhi released his arm and turned to walk in front.

Just as Cai Zhao came flying over, she saw Song Yuzhi standing facing her, with Wu Gang pressed close behind him, raising his right palm, poised to strike—

Her heart leaped into her throat. She was speechless. She immediately raised her hand and threw the poisoned dagger in her hand straight at him.

The moment Song Yuzhi turned, he saw Cai Zhao rushing towards him from a distance, her expression a mix of panic and terror. And then... then she threw a dagger at him?

He was stunned. Why would Zhaozhao want to kill him? No, that's not right!

In a flash of lightning, he understood something. It was too late to turn and flee. He might as well circulate his full internal energy to resist the attack.

It all happened in an instant. Just as Cai Zhao's thrown dagger struck Wu Gang's shoulder, Wu Gang's palms hit Song Yuzhi's back, and he was immediately met with a powerful surge of internal energy that swiftly counterattacked.

Wu Gang let out a wretched scream and staggered backward. This was both due to the counterattack from Song Yuzhi's internal energy and the severe wound from the thrown dagger.

Song Yuzhi took the two palm strikes head-on, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fell to one knee. Cai Zhao rushed forward and caught him.

When Chang Ning arrived, this was the unpleasant scene he saw.

Chang Ning: ...I hate the Demonic Cult.

Wu Gang lay on the ground, his mouth full of blood, laughing hysterically, "You've been hit by my Netherworld Cold Qi. Even if you don't die, you'll lose half your life!"

Seeing this, the surrounding disciples had already drawn their swords and surrounded him.

Song Yuzhi pushed himself up with Cai Zhao's support and stared at him, "The Qingque Sect has not treated you two poorly, and I have no grievance or enmity with you, senior. May I ask why you would commit such a despicable act, Senior Wu?"

He had been raised with proper etiquette since childhood and did not forget to use a respectful title even at a time like this. If it were Cai Zhao, she would have cursed his ancestors eighteen generations back.

Wu Gang's eyes were filled with venomous resentment, "With a junior like you, I indeed have no grievance or enmity, but I have a great one with your maternal grandfather! Hahahaha, what a number one sect under heaven, what a sanctimonious hypocrite! If that old dog Yin hadn't been so selfish back then, refusing to trade Elder Kaiyang for my elder brother, my brother wouldn't have ended up in such a state, neither human nor ghost!"

Cai Zhao couldn't help but interject, "The Three Elders of Green Peak lost two of their own just to capture a big shot from the Demonic Cult. It's understandable that they wouldn't want to trade him for Hero Wu..."

"What damn nonsense!" Wu Gang cursed loudly. "My master and that old dog Yin were friends for so many years. If that old dog Yin hadn't wanted to keep Elder Kaiyang to interrogate him about a secret, he would have been happy to do the favor. Why would he refuse?!"

Cai Zhao: "Huh?"

The venomous resentment in Wu Gang's heart had accumulated for many years, and now he had no more reservations. "Even if that old dog Yin was reluctant to trade for my elder brother, he could have just refused him outright. Master would not have blamed him. But he had to accompany my master to negotiate with Elder Yaoguang... Hmph, at that time I thought that old dog Yin was so righteous and benevolent. It turned out he failed to interrogate Elder Kaiyang, so he wanted to get information from Elder Yaoguang."

"They had barely exchanged a few words before they started fighting. That old dog Yin escaped unscathed, but my master died from his severe injuries!" Wu Gang's face twisted as he howled and wept. "If Master were still alive, my elder brother wouldn't have suffered in the Demonic Cult for more than a decade with no one to care for him. Master would definitely have found a way to save him..."

"So, your enemies are not only Cangqiong Zi and Qiu Yuanfeng, but also Old Sect Master Yin?" Chang Ning said quietly.

Wu Gang smiled arrogantly, "That's right. This time, we only came to kill Qi Yunke and Song Yuzhi. We have no grudge against them, but it's their misfortune that one is the chosen successor of that old dog Yin, and the other is his maternal grandson!"

Cai Zhao interjected again, "Old Sect Master Yin has more than one maternal grandson, you know." 'Master, you've been so wronged,' she thought. 'You clearly joined halfway through, yet you're counted as Old Sect Master Yin's direct disciple.'

At this moment, the poison in Wu Gang's system took effect. He yelled madly, "I don't care, I don't care, I want all of that old dog Yin's descendants dead! They promised me, as long as..." Before he could finish, a mouthful of black blood gushed out. He convulsed a few times and then breathed his last.

The sun was setting, and its cold light fell upon everyone, sending a chill through their hearts.

Author's Note:

1. Although it's short, isn't being short also cute?