Shan Chao and Yuwen Hu rushed forward at the same time, wanting to grab the snow lotus, but it was too late.
Xie Yun frowned slightly and waved her sleeve towards the torch.
Just as Fu Wenjie was about to put the flower into her mouth, the fire in the basement suddenly went out, falling into a pitch-black darkness.
"Zhongwen …" A faint female voice suddenly sounded in the dark, lingering in the air, sad and sad.
Everyone's scalp tingled at the same time, Yuwen Hu shouted, "Who is it?
Who is there? "
"… Zhongwen …"
Fu Wenjie froze, as if sleepwalking, she raised her head and looked around, murmuring, "Wan Juan … Wan Juan?"
Shan Chao clearly heard Zhongwen's call from Xie Yun's direction behind him, and immediately understood. Zhongwen should be the Chinese character for Fu Wenjie, and this name was only used by people who were very close to them. Ordinary people would not call them that.
Sure enough, in the next moment, the sound of bones tightening and hurried footsteps sounded at the same time, Shan Chao only felt that there was a person walking quickly behind him, heading straight to the box in the corner of the basement.
The basement was decorated according to a couple's boudoir. Fu Wenjie took down all the things that Wan Juan used when she was alive, and there should be his wife's clothes in the pear wood box next to the dressing table.
According to Madame Fu's temperament, these things of the dead would most likely be burned, but how could Fu Wenjie be willing to do that, and secretly kept them in the box.
Sure enough, the box opened with a squeak, and then the clothes opened up in the air.
"Wan Juan?" Fu Wenjie was confused, her hands waving in the air aimlessly, "Is it you?
You came to see me, did you come to pick me up? "
With a light sound, a fire was quietly lit in the corner.
Shan Chao looked over and was stunned.
In the darkness that was as deep as ink, the flame was like a firefly, reflecting a hazy halo.
Beside the pear wood box, a woman's figure slowly turned around. She was wearing a light crimson robe, and behind the embroidered veil was a faintly discernible outline of her beautiful face.
Fu Wenjie's hoarse sobbing voice slowly seeped out of the silent air like ice breaking.
"Wan Juan …"
Everyone was so shocked that they couldn't make a sound. Several bodyguards stood as stiff as stone. Yuwen Hu's astonished gaze quickly turned into a complicated and inexplicable expression.
However, Xie Yun was very calm.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he walked towards Fu Wenjie without making a sound. It was as if he was floating on the ground.
"Don't cry, Zhongwen," he said calmly.
— — The voice was soft, soft, hoarse, and difficult to distinguish. Perhaps it was because he had hit the acupuncture points near the throat, but it was even softer than when he was pretending to be "Miss Long". At first glance, it really sounded like a woman's voice!
Fu Wenjie looked at Xie Yun, and everyone else stared at Fu Wenjie. They didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
The entire dark basement was in a deadlock. With the addition of the huge dark coffin not far away, the scene was indescribably strange.
In just a few breaths of time, it felt as if years had passed. Fu Wenjie finally reached out her hand in a daze,
"It's … it's great to see you again …"
The sound of breathing rose and fell. Everyone could hear the sound of their hearts falling from their throats back to their chests.
Xie Yun walked forward and slowly knelt in front of Fu Wenjie, who was covered in blood.
The flickering light of the match shone from behind him. From this angle, most of his face was hidden behind the veil. Only the corners of his eyes were shining faintly, "What are you doing, Zhongwen? Why are you injured?"
Fu Wenjie murmured, "I … I avenged you and killed everyone. Are you happy?"
Xie Yun was silent. Fu Wenjie choked with sobs and tears flowed down her face, "I miss you very much, Wan Juan. I really miss you …"
Young Suzerain burst into tears. Perhaps it was because of the blood in his throat, but his crying was so hoarse and sharp that it was almost out of tune. It was like sandpaper scratching metal, making people feel very uncomfortable.
He beat himself with his hands and nervously repeated, "I'm wrong" and "I'm sorry". Big drops of tears rolled down his pale and ashy cheeks.
His face was distorted to the point of spasms. Because of his excessive crying, his whole body trembled violently. It seemed that even the pain of the golden arrow piercing through his shoulder had numbed him. Blood kept flowing out of the wound, forming a small blood pool on the ground.
Everyone looked at his hand anxiously. The snow lotus was tightly clenched into a ball. Several petals had fallen down and floated in the blood stains on the stone floor.
One of the bodyguards couldn't help but want to move, but was stopped by Yuwen Hu, "Wait."
Xie Yun gently said, "Can you put down the thing in your hand?"
Fu Wenjie, who was emotional, turned a deaf ear to her.
"Every day … every day I miss you. I was wrong, Wan Juan. If I didn't insist on marrying you, if you didn't have a child … I regret every day. Why did you have to be the one who left?"
"I killed you. Everyone in this world killed you. They all deserve to die!"
Fu Wenjie's voice changed. His choked sobs revealed incomparable madness and violence, "I want them to taste the taste of despair. I want them to go down and apologize to you!
I'll send them all down to accompany you, one by one!
They all deserve to die — —! "
His last words echoed for a long time. Everyone couldn't help but shiver.
Xie Yun reached out and gently held Fu Wenjie's cold fingertips,
"I know. I also miss you very much."
At that moment, it was as if some kind of magic had appeared. Fu Wenjie suddenly calmed down. His lips trembled as he looked at Xie Yun.
— — In fact, with such weak visibility and hazy tears, he actually couldn't see anything clearly.
"Wan Juan …" he whispered, "Do you hate me?"
"No," Xie Yun gently said, "I forgive you."
Fu Wenjie foolishly laughed. His laughter echoed in the dark tunnel, making people's hair stand on end.
"… … That's great. Wan Juan, I knew you wouldn't hate me … … You're so beautiful. You're still so beautiful."
Even Yuwen Hu, who had been on the battlefield for a long time, felt a chill in his heart when he saw this strange scene. The bodyguards beside him also unconsciously began to tremble.
However, Xie Yun looked straight at Fu Wenjie. Her light red lips slightly curved up. Her gaze was as gentle as a young girl's.
"The flower in your hand is also very beautiful. Can you help me put it on?"
For a moment, Fu Wenjie didn't seem to understand. He just sat there in a daze.
It wasn't until Xie Yun's gaze turned to his other hand that was tightly curled up. At the same time, she slightly lowered her head. Then, he seemed to have recovered from his confusion and laughed.
"Flower hairpin, flower hairpin … … You're right.
From the east of Bo, the head is like a flying peng. How can there be no anointing? Who is suitable? "
Fu Wenjie absentmindedly raised his hand that was holding the snow lotus. Blood dripped from between his fingers and dripped down his fingertips onto Xie Yun's black hair.
But he didn't seem to notice. His eyes were unfocused, sad, and infatuated. It was as if he could see through this gloomy tunnel and the flickering candlelight, and see a more distant and warm memory from his memory.
"How can there be no anointing? Who is suitable?"
His hand slightly paused.
Everyone held their breaths. In an instant, the surroundings fell into a dead silence.
— — The bloody snow lotus was inserted into Xie Yun's hair by Fu Wenjie's ear.
Yuwen Hu immediately made a decision. "Commander Xie, come back!"
He raised his knife and was about to step forward. However, Xie Yun didn't move. She seemed to be ignoring everything around her. She only maintained a half-kneeling position and smiled at Fu Wenjie. "Do you want to go with me?"
Fu Wenjie's eyes widened slightly.
Xie Yun repeated, "Do you want to go with me?"
Shan Chao suddenly realized something and cried out, "No!"
He said it too late. Fu Wenjie laughed. Because of the blood in his throat, his laughter sounded like a giggle. It was very strange and scary. However, his expression was happy. In other words, the Young Suzerain Fu of Casting Sword Village had never shown such an expectant and happy expression.
He said, "Okay."
"No!" Shan Chao stepped forward. "Stop!"
— — At this moment, Xie Yun's hand was like a knife. Amidst the splashing blood, she stabbed Fu Wenjie's heart!
"… …"
Fu Wenjie stared blankly ahead. A large amount of blood gushed out of his mouth. His entire body was convulsing.
However, that only lasted for a short while. Then, with a thump, he fell to the ground. His pupils rapidly contracted and then completely dilated.
"… … Wan …" His last breath was like a whisper. It passed through his cold and trembling lips.
"Wan Juan … …"
Xie Yun leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I'm here."
Fu Wenjie forced a smile. He took a few deep breaths and finally closed his eyes peacefully.
Not a single sound could be heard in the basement. No one made a sound or moved. Even their breathing could not be heard.
The pantomime silence lasted for a long time. Finally, Xie Yun straightened up. She took a deep breath and stood up beside Fu Wenjie's cold body.
The indescribable tension in the air finally loosened at this moment. Everyone's shoulders suddenly relaxed as if a heavy burden had been lifted from them.
"Come back, Commander Xie," Yuwen Hu quickly stepped forward, "The matter of the Casting Sword Village has been settled. The snow lotus can also … …"
He suddenly stopped in his tracks. Xie Yun raised her hand and plucked the snow lotus. At the same time, she stretched her body with her back facing everyone again. Her thighs, waist, spine, shoulders, and slender fingers made a crisp cracking sound. Then, the tall and straight back of the Commander of the Imperial Army appeared in front of everyone again.
"What's wrong with the snow lotus?" Xie Yun asked coldly.
Some kind of ominous premonition suddenly rose in Yuwen Hu's heart, "Don't mess around, Xie Yun.
The current Emperor has already decreed that you should immediately return to Chang An to report to the Emperor. Everyone in the Casting Sword Village and the matter of the Crown Prince's antidote will be handled by me … … "
"But in the end, I was the one who obtained the antidote, wasn't I?"
Yuwen Hu choked under Xie Yun's cold and teasing gaze. Then, he said, "Then what do you want to do?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became strange again.
The bodyguard nervously gripped the hilt of his sword. Shan Chao also raised his eyebrows. He looked at Yuwen Hu and then at Xie Yun. He subconsciously moved half a step to the side and vaguely blocked the Seven Star Long Yuan Sword in the direction of Yuwen Hu's advance.
However, Xie Yun didn't answer. He lifted the scarlet robe that the Young Madam had hurriedly draped over his shoulders and casually covered Fu Wenjie's corpse at his feet.
"I don't want to do anything."
Xie Yun said lazily. His tone was unexpectedly relaxed and malicious, "You're thinking too much again, Yuwen Great General.
People who think too much will easily die early. "
He turned around and walked through the crowd. He picked up the Tai Ah Sword that he had just placed in the corner and walked out of the secret room as if nothing had happened.
Yuwen Hu gave a look to his bodyguard and quickly followed him. He saw Xie Yun holding the snow lotus in one hand and the Tai Ah Sword in the other. He took the lead and stepped into the tunnel.
"Great General …" One of the bodyguards whispered.
Yuwen Hu made a shushing gesture and signaled for him to look at the end of the crowd.
Shan Chao was looking back at the coffin and the corpse in the secret room one last time. He turned around and strode to catch up with the group.
The black-clothed monk's handsome face was gloomy and cold. The Seven Star Long Yuan on his back was faintly flickering with a green light from the tattered cloth.
Yuwen Hu's eyes were hazy.
No one knew where this monk came from or where he came from.
Although he seemed to be hostile to Xie Yun, Xie Yun's attitude towards him was quite interesting.
Moreover, the tunnel was narrow and they couldn't walk side by side. These two people were at the front and the back. If they were to fight, they would be surrounded …
No one made a sound on the way to the surface. After exiting the secret door, the cold morning air hit them in the face. Everyone immediately felt refreshed.
Yuwen Hu realized how wrong he was to be cautious in the tunnel just now.
The Casting Sword Village's courtyard was densely packed with people and horses. It was completely surrounded.
With the tunnel they came out of as the center, the left and right sides were clearly separated. On one side were the five hundred personal guards of the Xiao Qi Grand General's Residence, while on the other side, their bows and horses were neatly lined up, their swords drawn and ready for a fight.
Yuwen Hu couldn't hold back anymore. He raised his voice and sneered, "Commander Xie, you have good methods. I admire you, admire you!"
Xie Yun said indifferently, "You have many things to admire about me. You can learn from me in the future."
"Commander!"
Ma Xin led his men out of the crowd. He got off his horse and clasped his hands in front of his chest. He took an exquisite red sandalwood lock box from his subordinate behind him.
Xie Yun put the snow lotus flower that was still wet with blood into the box and asked casually, "What about the Shengui Sect?"
"The one surnamed Jing retreated. We followed your orders and didn't stop him.
However, it took us some time to search the Casting Sword Village's storehouse, so we couldn't protect you in time. Please forgive us, Commander! "
Ma Xin said this in front of everyone without the slightest scruple. For a moment, Shan Chao, Yuwen Hu, and the others had very subtle expressions on their faces.
"En," Xie Yun didn't take it seriously. "Take away the light and valuable ones. Don't take the big ones."
Ma Xin asked again, "There's another thing.
Jiangnan's Chen Family and other famous sects heard the news and sent people to pick up their disciples. Commander, how do you plan to deal with this? "
When he asked this question, more than a dozen Wulin disciples, including Chen Haiping and Zhou Yu, were being escorted by the Imperial Guards and were waiting far away outside the courtyard.
After the fierce battle with the Shengui Sect, these Jianghu newcomers, who were usually surrounded by flowers and stars, were quite embarrassed. Some of them couldn't even stand up and could only sit on the ground.
Hearing Ma Xin's question, these people all had different expressions. It wasn't clear whether or not they were ashamed and wanted to commit suicide.
Xie Yun smiled and said, "Let them go. Let them go. They're useless anyway."
The Imperial Guards had completely taken control of the Casting Sword Village. The entire situation was in order. The orders were carried out in an orderly manner. Obviously, there was no one else involved.
Yuwen Hu looked back at his own people. He gritted his teeth and cupped his hands. "It seems that Commander Xie has already made preparations. I won't disturb you … the current Emperor is still in the palace waiting for me to report back. Commander Xie, let's go to the Imperial Study another day to discuss the ins and outs of today's events."
This was clearly a threat.
Xie Yun stared at Yuwen Hu. Everyone thought he was going to say something.
However, immediately after, he turned his head and said indifferently to Ma Xin, "Right.
Send someone to blow up the tunnel in the backyard.
The corpses of Young Suzerain and his wife are inside the Casting Sword Village. There's no need to dig them up. Just bury them together. "
"… …" Yuwen Hu's face immediately turned ashen. He flicked his sleeves and left without looking back.
The Imperial Guard brought over a snow-white horse with not a single stray hair. Xie Yun mounted the horse and looked down at the ruins that had completely collapsed not far away.
Just a day ago, it was still the elegant and beautiful back mountain villa of the Casting Sword Village. Who would have thought that it would be destroyed overnight? The grandeur was gone in an instant.
Xie Yun withdrew her gaze and said, "Let's go."
The well-trained subordinates immediately mounted the horses. At this time, a voice suddenly came from the side, "Wait!"
Everyone turned around and saw Shan Chao standing in the same place. He stared at Xie Yun. After a long time, he slowly said, "You … … Aren't you going to say something?"
Xie Yun asked, "What?"
Shan Chao suddenly realized that this scene was extremely absurd. There was even a trace of ridicule in the absurdity. However, he couldn't laugh at all.
"… … You don't want to kill me now?" After a long time, he squeezed out a sentence.
Xie Yun looked him up and down and asked, "Why would I want to kill you? Do you have any value to be killed?"
If he wasn't the person involved, perhaps Shan Chao would have laughed and praised this wonderful answer. However, no one laughed. No one even had any expression. Only the horses occasionally snorted and stomped on the ground with their hooves. Other than that, there was complete silence.
Shan Chao finally opened his mouth with difficulty.
"Since all of this was arranged long ago, why did you involve me?"
"Why did you hide your identity? Why did you let me enter the Casting Sword Village? Why did you take so much trouble to let me see and experience all of this with my own eyes?"
Xie Yun rode on the horse and looked down at Shan Chao. Suddenly, a trace of interest appeared on her face.
"Do you still remember what I said to you in the middle of the night on Zhongzheng Street?"
"… …"
"There is nothing in this world that can be obtained easily. Without supreme status and supreme power, it is impossible for a person who is born to seek answers from the world. Moreover, to me, you are a weakling. The words of a lowly person carry little weight, and your life is no different from that of an ant.
Even Fu Wenjie knows that if he wants to take revenge, he has to go all out. However, you only know how to kneel and beg for so-called answers from me. "
Xie Yun slightly bent down and smiled at Shan Chao, "I don't talk to the weak. Now, in my eyes, you are weaker than Fu Wenjie or even Yuwen Hu."
"… …" Shan Chao slowly clenched his teeth.
"Leave a horse for him." Xie Yun casually ordered Ma Xin, "The world is vast. Let him be. Let's go."
The Imperial Guards rode their horses and galloped past Shan Chao. Soon, they went down the mountain with the rumbling sound of the horses' hooves.
The huge courtyard at the back of the mountain was empty in an instant. Only dust and smoke slowly settled in the ruins.
The morning sun shone through the forest and shone on the ruins. Smoke slowly rose from the charred roof beams and rubble.
Shan Chao looked not far away.
There really was a horse at the edge of the forest. It was as black as lightning and its hooves were as white as snow. It was impatiently digging into the ground. It was the same horse that he rode with Xie Yun when he escaped from Chang 'an to the south!
"The world is vast. Let him be … …"
Shan Chao thought of Xie Yun's last words again. Suddenly, he seemed to understand something from those words. His pupils contracted slightly.
On the horizon, in the direction of Chang An, thousands of miles away, the majestic imperial city.
The eight rivers surrounded the twelve city gates. The Daming Palace was bathed in the pale golden light of dawn. It emitted a continuous and dazzling red light like the rising sun.
Shan Chao jumped on the horse and looked into the distance.
After a long while, he finally took a deep breath and brazenly urged the horse, "— — Jia!"
Black Cloud rode on the snow and moved as fast as lightning. It passed through the mountains and rivers, moving forward day by day. It carried Shan Chao to the pinnacle of the empire's power.
·
— — The end of the first volume.