Chapter 45 045[VIP]

Shi Qingruo felt like she had had a very long dream.

In it, she lay on a small boat, drifting with the current.

Through her nearly dried-up meridians, a trickle of fluid gradually returned as she breathed in and out.

The bright blue sky and leisurely clouds overhead made her feel no rush to wake up.

After all, she had been exhausting herself for days, exhausting herself completely. Now, with Yuan Shisanxian dead and Fu Zongshu's scheme exposed, she could finally rest for a while.

The young emperor above, though young, showed no lack of courage and scheming in his actions within the Misty Heaven Alliance and his conversations with Yin Xian. This treacherous rebellion might be exploited by him to further entangle her.

Then, she would have less to do...

...

but why—

when she woke, she wasn't actually in the Misty Heaven Alliance, but in a strange place!

If it weren't for the wisp of snow-white hair twirling by her hand and the familiar face resting against the bed, she would have almost suspected she'd completed the storyline and time-traveled again.

...

The moment she opened her eyes, Shi Qingruo took in the entire room's furnishings.

The room wasn't large, but every piece of furniture was fashionable and expensive, from the gilded ebony bed engraved with a pattern of precious elephants and winding branches, to the nanmu table with cloud legs and fine ivory, and the jade hook and cloud pattern lamp in the distance. None of these were the work of ordinary craftsmen, yet it was clear that they were

Gongzi Yu's hobby.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

Her internal energy hadn't fully recovered yet. Even though she had a premonition that her power would be much stronger when she fully recovered, she couldn't subdue this guy with a single blow.

The white-haired young man leaning against the bedpost had also opened his eyes from his restful rest.

However, the first words he spoke were, "I was struck by an arrow from Yuan Shisanxian earlier."

Shi Qingruo: "...You don't seem to have answered the question I needed to hear."

Now she was in an unfamiliar place, the culprit being the very person before her, yet he was the first to feel wronged.

True, Yuan Shisanxian's arrow of sorrow was truly extraordinary. If it had struck an ordinary person, it would have been heartbreaking. However, Gongzi Yu's practice of the Great Compassion Sutra included a unique martial art that could shift the body's tendons, veins, and bones when necessary, avoiding a fatal attack. Therefore, the earlier arrow wasn't a significant concern.

If it weren't for his earlier assistance, Shi Qingruo probably wouldn't have had the time to spare, noticing that his face was indeed paler than before.

He lowered his eyes, and the pale color of his hair and brow seemed to have stained his long lashes, making his cold gray eyes appear darker than before, adding a touch of innocence to their seemingly innocent demeanor.

"I was also struck by a sword."

"...Speak humanly."

"That flying swordsman struck me when I kidnapped you."

That day, Shi Qingruo was injured by Yuan Shisanxian, who then exhausted his inner energy, disfiguring his face, severing one of his hands, and ultimately taking his life. Even the strongest of hearts wouldn't have been able to maintain consciousness.

The closest to her were Lu Xiaofeng and Gongzi Yu.

Lu Xiaofeng was a step slow to regroup, and Gongzi Yu got there first, catching him.

While Gongzi Yu and the Azure Dragon Society he controlled might have been considered opposing factions, his previous familiarity with Shi Qingruo and his performance during the siege of Yuan Shisanxian were so deceptive.

So when he offered to accompany them to the Misty Heaven Alliance, no one noticed anything amiss.

The fact that it was Gongzi Yu's Azure Dragon Society troops, rather than the Misty Heaven Alliance, who arrived first was due to Yuan Xian's limited escape route.

He even invited Ah Fei, who was barely injured, to ride with him, saying they wanted to discuss Shen Lang's situation and resolve past conflicts.

However, soon after he boarded the car, he released a knockout incense. When Ah Fei realized something was amiss, he only managed to stab Gong Ziyu with his sword, causing quite a commotion before the incompetent fellow escaped with Shi Qingruo.

It's hard to say whether this incident taught Ah Fei another lesson in the martial arts world, but Gong Ziyu was using his injury as leverage to complain to the man before him.

Shi Qingruo's fingertips twitched uncontrollably, and she realized a strand of white hair had become entangled there.

"If I remember correctly, the Misty Heaven Alliance currently holds a hostage from your side."

Gongzi Yu smiled. "Indeed. You had Miss Guan instigate the remnants of the Six and a Half Sect against Tang Lan, and then sent that Miss Wen with the King of Luoyang's favorite general to reap the benefits. In any case, a thief will not leave empty-handed. Tang Lan fell into your hands because she was inferior in skill."

"As for Di Feijing, if he can even be considered on my side, then it's purely his own fault."

He had warned Di Feijing that there was no need to elaborate with such a wise man who had his own opinions.

But during the full moon battle that day, knowing that Shi Qingruo had placed Guan Chun in that position for her own reasons, Di Feijing still took the risk and attacked again.

This time, without Gongzi Yu to help him, he was caught red-handed by the combined forces of Wang Xiaoshi and Chu Liuxiang.

At this point, the Six-and-a-half Hall's chief is imprisoned, the second-in-command has died a tragic death, and Miss Lei, the supposed heir apparent, has changed her surname and orchestrated the fate of those two. Anyone observing this would have to say that the Six-and-a-half Hall can no longer stir up any trouble in Bianjing.

Gongzi Yu asked, "Why did you bring up Tang Lan and Di Feijing? Do you think I brought you back to use you as a hostage to exchange for them?"

Shi Qingruo sneered, "Are you such a responsible leader? I mean, you've delayed my important task."

Gongzi Yu choked.

Shi Qingruo, having gathered his inner breath for a moment, forced himself to sit up and said, "Yuan Shisanxian may be a lone wolf, but he's still the foremost martial arts expert under Fu Zongshu. The Misty Heaven Alliance presided over the siege against him, and I personally took his life. His influence in the martial arts world cannot be underestimated, more than enough to compensate for the loss left by Guan Qi's departure after shattering the void."

A new generation of martial artists replaced the old. The best way to enhance one's reputation is to kill the villains of the previous generation.

This was how the renowned hero Shen Lang faced the Happy King Chai Yuguan, and it was the same with her this time against Yuan Shisanxian.

Shi Qingruo gritted her teeth. The wound from Yuanxian's earlier attack still ached, but from the perspective of Gongzi Yu beside her, a fire was clearly burning deep within those watery autumn eyes. "With this proof in hand, we can now do things that we couldn't do before in the Misty Sky Alliance, but you've ruined everything."

"And the Liufenbantang, they could have gathered a lot of gang members after capturing Di Feijing. After Yuan Xian's death, those among Fang Geyin's former subordinates who were already in negotiations also had the opportunity to join the alliance..."

Gongzi Yu suddenly interrupted her: "But have you ever thought about how some people will think that you have done so much, but you are just a gang leader? When I first arrived in Bianjing, I heard people talking about the Jinfengxiyu Tower. They weren't talking about how capable Su Mengzhen was, but about the prophecy of Tianquan Mountain!"

It's said that the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower, based beneath the Heavenly Spring, boasts a nine-story pagoda, only the spire visible. Inscribed on it are two lines of poetry: "Under the Heavenly Spring Mountain, a spring flows; the pagoda reveals its true form, and the world rebels!"

When a gang leader achieves greatness, he is feared for greater ambitions; this is the truth of the world.

Perhaps the previous owner of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower, during the reign of that absurd and incompetent emperor, did harbor such thoughts, but such words were not to be spoken casually.

Shi Qingruo replied frankly, "Do you really believe that the reason I and Master Su are teaming up to deal with Yuan Shisanxian is simply to prevent Zhuge Shenhou from taking ruthless action against his junior brother? The Jianghu is the Jianghu, and this is the best outcome for everyone."

If she had achieved this, and someone else still had leverage over her, she would never be a soft persimmon to be exploited!

"You didn't have to bring me here under the pretext of doing something good for me..."

"But considering everything, shouldn't you give me an explanation?" Gongzi Yu grasped her shoulders and turned her towards him.

Shi Qingruo could clearly see the bloodshot in his eyes, even in his slightly grim expression. The tension in his jaw, while making his handsome face more stubborn, also hinted at a hint of vulnerability.

"Back then, you and I learned and grew up together, and entered the martial arts world together. You're obviously not like Master, but you always seem to have some distance between you and everyone. That's fine... You treat life as a game, and I pursue fame and fortune, placing the lives of others on your chessboard."

He moved closer to Shi Qingruo, his eyes darkening. "You said you would take me with you to transcend the world and seek the ultimate immortality, and from then on it would be just the two of us. I believed you. But why... why, when I woke up again, I was back to the time when I first became Master. I asked everyone on the island, and waited year after year, but no one named Shi Qingruo, who secretly told me her name was Zijin, appeared before me!"

Shouldn't he demand an answer?

Shi Qingruo opened her mouth, but suddenly found it a bit difficult to explain. As Gongzi Yu kept asking questions, she suddenly realized that she had previously misunderstood the 99 favorability rating.

But she didn't know it at the time. To her, it was just an ancient romance game, with its sophisticated characters and a greater sense of immersion in holographic mode. For Gongzi Yu...

no, it should be said that Su Mengzhen and Ye Gucheng, it was all real life experiences.

Gongzi Yu continued, "I became a disciple in a shorter time than in my previous life and came to this world of martial arts. I thought you might have drifted away somewhere else, but I never heard from you." "

Last year, Tang Lan brought me news of a mysterious island in the East China Sea. There was a mysterious beauty in a gambling house there. I ignored the masters on the island and rushed there, but found that it was not you. After I recovered from my injuries from the fight with Island Master Wu Ming, I heard that you were in Bianjing."

Perhaps due to his previous injuries, Gongzi Yu's breathing became rapid, and then suppressed by the rise and fall of his chest. "And then there's our reunion."

Shi Qingruo was silent for a moment. "...So what did you mean by attacking Fang Juxia?"

This time it was Gongzi Yu's turn to be speechless.

What was he supposed to say?

Should he say that he was furious at the news that Shi Qingruo had married Guan Qi, and even more furious that her deception had tortured him for over a decade, and now that she was completely obsessed with her new friends and the Misty Heaven Alliance she led, he simply stood against her?

And yet, while he was scolding Di Feijing for being incompetent and letting Guan Chun manipulate him, wasn't he also eager to fall into her trap when he heard the situation was getting out of control?

"Fang Geyin condoned Fang Yingkan's evil deeds, which was indeed a misjudgment of his character, but he himself has made great contributions to the martial arts world. Even if he needs to be sentenced to death, it shouldn't be you."

He was stunned, but Shi Qingruo pushed him away, breaking free from the confrontation that had held her captive, and stood up and walked out.

However, when Shi Qingruo opened the door, she saw not the courtyard outside or the inn's corridor, but a breathtaking grotto.

Hundreds of caves were carved into the rock, connected by platforms, ropes, and wooden stakes.

If only the people who frequented this place were not members of the martial arts world, entering or exiting such a cave would be a formidable challenge.

Even more astonishing was the fact that, within Shi Qingruo's immediate vicinity, she could see numerous people moving about. Their attire and demeanor didn't suggest they were from the same faction, yet they maintained a remarkably quiet presence.

This cave, blazing with flames everywhere, looked like a haunted den.

As she pondered this, a black cloak fell over her head.

Turning back, she saw Gongzi Yu, also donning a black cloak, concealing his striking white hair, and his bronze mask.

As if anticipating her question, he took Shi Qingruo's hand and led them to another small cave diagonally above.

This small cave, not far from where she had lived before, was much more cramped than the previous one and less conspicuous among the entire mountainside grottoes.

However, looking out from this place, she could take in everything in front of her without being seen by anyone outside.

"This is the Anyang branch of the Azure Dragon Society. Of course, it also has another identity to the outside world, which is a black market in the north."

Shi Qingruo was a little itchy and was almost laughing with anger: "You took me quite far?"

Gongzi Yu lowered his head and replied: "You and I are a match made in heaven, why do you have to entangle with those people?"

"This is not entanglement." Shi Qingruo's eyes were slightly cold, "I have things I want to do, and people I want to take care of. You can stand opposite me, but please also follow the techniques of competition."

He pursed his thin lips, "But most people in the world are hypocritical and it is not worth you doing so much for them. Take Fang Geyin for example, he walks in the world with the name of a benevolent and righteous hero, but he can't tell what kind of people his disciples and his adopted sons are. Zhuge Shenhou is also a benchmark of the Bianjing martial arts world, but he is too lenient with Yuan Shisanxian. You can kill Fang Yingkan and Yuan Shisanxian, but can you take care of everything?"

"And--"

He brought Shi Qingruo to the window of the stone chamber and pointed to a place high up.

Shi Qingruo keenly noticed that although these caves were all carved into the rock face, they were not all the same. The higher one went, the wider the cave entrance became, and the more eye-catching the stone platform and pillars in front of the cave entrance became. The flags in front of the door also became more prominent.

Undoubtedly, that was a sign of distinguished guests.

"There lives a very interesting person. He has an elder brother who, with his swordsmanship, earned the name of the Blood-robed Man in the martial arts world. However, because his brother set too high standards for himself and felt that he would never be able to make it, he pretended to be stupid at home, but secretly established a killer organization, which is one of the frequent visitors here."

"There--" He changed direction, "there lives someone who should be familiar to you. Her two sons have been tried in Bianjing because you exposed their conspiracy in the Beggar Gang. Unfortunately, the theft of the Tianyi Divine Water caused the Jellyfish Yin Ji of the Divine Water Palace to come to Bianjing. She didn't dare to see this old enemy, so she temporarily settled here."

"Wuhua is a hypocritical person. He clearly talks about the true meaning of Buddhism, but he deceives and rapes women for pleasure, and even kills people to make money. His mother is even more skilled. In order to seize the treasure of Qiuci, she became a princess."

"And there—" He pointed to another place, his tone getting harsher. "When I took you away from Bian Jing, due to the sudden change in the situation in the capital, some people could no longer sit still and wanted to seek alliances, so they also set out to leave for the north. This person has a better reputation in the world, and his mask is more beautiful. He is none other than Yuan Suiyun, the young master of Wu Zheng Villa. But how could the world know that he travels the world under another identity, known as the Bat Young Master, but is engaged in inhumane business." "

What do you want to say?" Shi Qingruo asked calmly, "Are you saying that this black market seems to be a masterpiece of nature and is huge in scale, but is actually full of filth and stench?"

Gongzi Yu's eyes were frost-covered: "Of course, since everyone in the world has thousands of masks and is hypocritical, now that you and I meet again, it is enough for us to just sit in the clouds and watch this game of fighting. Why bother to get ourselves to this point, when it is only a temporary solution and not a cure for the root cause."

She said that they had different views on the world, so they had different paths, but the more he looked at this world where everyone was wearing a mask, the more ridiculous it seemed to him.

He also hated to see his lost and recovered treasure lying there just a few days ago, like a piece of porcelain that didn't move or make a sound.

Shi Qingruo, however, seemed completely unconvinced by his words, replying nonchalantly, "Since you're wearing masks, why not just take them off one by one?"

"You said..."

Gongzi Yu's voice suddenly stopped.

The moment he opened his mouth, Shi Qingruo had already placed her hand on the edge of his bronze mask.

The sudden warmth of her fingertips against his cheek nearly made him forget what he had been about to say, let alone stop her from removing the mask from his face.

Her voice was gentle, yet it struck Gongzi Yu like a thunderbolt in his ears: "Do you see yourself now?"

Shi Qingruo's martial arts hadn't fully recovered, but that didn't stop her from asking. The next moment, Gongzi Yu watched as the mask crumbled to dust in her palm, scattering and falling.

The mask was no longer obstructing his view, leaving only those bright, embracing eyes.

The cave was devoid of sunlight, save for a single palace lantern outside the small chamber's entrance, which cast a dim glow, enough for him to see—

his face and figure, floating in the center of the emerald lake.

...

Lu Xiaofeng slammed the table and sighed deeply.

This usually carefree little phoenix, full of laughter and anger, now looked like a wilted free-range chicken.

He raged, "I really shouldn't have let him succeed."

"You've said that for the thirty-first time," Sikong Zhaixing continued, his eyes weary. "No, I'll go ask my friends on the underworld."

"I think you'd better not waste your time. You wouldn't get anything out of them even if you held a knife to their necks. It would be easy for the leader of the Azure Dragon Society to evade your pursuit." Tang Lan sneered.

She was chained, unable to move like Tang Ling, but that didn't stop her from speaking with pride.

That was the confidence of the former eldest daughter of the Tang Clan.

True, she had been the victim of a series of schemes and defeated, but if anything, the Misty Heaven Alliance didn't win either.

The Emperor had awarded them a commendation for their assistance in thwarting the conspiracy of Fu Zongshu and his group, but the person who most deserved the award wasn't there.

This was a huge problem!

The Misty Heaven Alliance was already in disarray. Among them were those like Yan Hefa and Zhu Xiaoyao who had previously defected to the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower, as well as Guan Chun, who had been adopted by Lei Sun, and those newcomers who hadn't yet been fully nurtured...

Who knew what the situation would be like when Shi Qingruo returned?

As for the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower, it was even more troublesome than the Misty Heaven Alliance.

Tang Lan could vaguely guess Gongzi Yu's attitude towards Shi Qingruo and knew that her life was in no danger at the moment, but Su Mengzhen wasn't so sure.

Yuan Shisanxian's final counterattack had significantly exacerbated the wound he'd sustained from the small, heartbreaking arrow. Coupled with his already miraculously healthy condition, even Zhuge Shenhou, who had visited Fengyu Tower, found it difficult to deal with the situation, barely managing to contain his injuries.

But seeing that he hadn't been out in charge for seven or eight days, with Yang Wuxie handling Fengyu Tower's affairs, one could roughly guess at his current situation.

This was all Tang Lan had heard here over the past few days, though it wasn't as if she truly possessed clairvoyance.

"Miss Tang, don't you feel you don't have the confidence to say such things?" Guan Chun fiddled with the ring on her finger, a hint of irritation between her brows, yet her words remained gentle and composed.

"The Tang Clan will never redeem a traitor like you. As for Young Master Yu, if he wanted to exchange you, he would have done so long ago. To put it bluntly, your life is now completely in our hands. We're letting you live now because you have a more important role. You don't even understand your own future, so what qualifications do you have to judge others?"

Tang Lan curled his lips and said nothing more.

Perhaps this wasn't entirely due to Guan Chun's threats, but also because someone walked in from outside. Lu Xiaofeng greeted them upon seeing them. "How is it?"

Hua Manlou shook his head. "We've searched all the trade routes commonly used by the Hua family in Jiangnan, but there's no clue. Young Master Yu probably didn't take his mistress south."

"Nothing to the west either," Wen Rou replied, stepping into the room with Hua Manlou at the same moment.

This chattering girl rarely spoke more than five words, which made her words more convincing.

Lu Xiaofeng knocked on the table. "Both Fengyu Tower and the Mitian League have extensive connections in the land and water transport system, especially along the major rivers. Going west or east is unlikely, so—" "

It can only go north?"

He jumped up. "I'm going to find Captain Qi."

Lu Xiaofeng had previously collaborated with Qi Shaoshang during the siege of Yuan Shisanxian, so naturally they had a few more words. Lu Xiaofeng, a man with a wide circle of friends, had always admired Qi Shaoshang for his generous and heroic spirit. He also asked about his time as leader of Lianyun Village.

Before being targeted by Fu Zongshu, Lianyun Village enjoyed considerable status in the northern martial arts world.

To supply Lianyun Village's troops to fight against foreign invaders, numerous trade routes from north to south were opened.

Although Lianyun Village had been shattered after Gu Xichao's betrayal, Tie Shou had rebuilt it in the north, and it was now a resounding force.

If one wanted to find someone in the north, the connections emanating from Lianyun Village were quite useful.

But just as Lu Xiaofeng jumped up, Hua Manlou said, "You don't have to go. When the news was first reported to the Divine Marquis Mansion, Chief Constable Wuqing had already set off with Tie Shou and Qi Shaoshang. If there's any clue, they'll send it back as soon as possible. You have something else to do."

"What?" Lu Xiaofeng was puzzled.

Hua Manlou didn't quite understand either, so he simply relayed, "Ye Gucheng wants to see you."

Lu Xiaofeng was even more confused.

Speaking of Ye Gucheng, he was truly unpredictable.

He looked like a swordsman far removed from the mundane world, yet he seemed to wield a compassionate sword.

That day, he dueled Ximen Chuxue, and emerged victorious with his sword. The onlookers could easily see that Ye Gucheng's swordsmanship had undergone an inexplicable transformation, as if the superiority of his opponent, coupled with the opportunity presented by the duel, had allowed him to surpass a crucial threshold in his skill.

Even more unexpectedly, after the duel, he was imprisoned in Zhuge Shenhou's mansion by order of the Emperor, and there was no further news.

However, a member of Baiyun City approached the Misty Heaven Alliance with shocking news.

It turned out that even before the duel, Ye Gucheng had entrusted Baiyun City to Madam Shi. While Ye Gucheng was being held captive, no further information was announced. According to the previous agreement, the people of Baiyun City were to obey Madam Shi's orders.

The arrival of the troops was wasted; they were dispatched to search for someone else.

As for Ye Gucheng...

Thinking back to the news of a shocking fight at the Divine Marquis's mansion a few days ago, Lu Xiaofeng, though unsure why Ye Gucheng wanted to see him, nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go." He

hoped that whatever side of the situation would soon reveal some clues.

Otherwise, no matter who it was, someone would probably go crazy first.

...

Meanwhile, the protagonist of the commotion seemed like an outsider, leisurely browsing the stalls in a corner of the black market.

She passed a pile of cages filled with poisonous insects and snakes and stopped at a hidden weapon stall. She and a young swordsman in black simultaneously reached for a golden cylinder.

However, Shi Qingruo grabbed the cylinder first.

She curled her lips and gave the young swordsman an apologetic smile. "I wanted to see it first. Please forgive me, sir."

The young swordsman suddenly froze in place, looking at her with a look of surprise and doubt.

"Hey, what are you looking at me for? You're not waiting to rob me, are you?" Shi Qingruo asked with a raised eyebrow.

The young swordsman didn't reply immediately, but fell silent as he watched the cloaked woman, her face half-revealed.

He had seen this face before, mingling with his master among the crowd by the Jinshui River that day

. Because of his master's unique status—he founded a killer organization, and was himself a killer—it wasn't convenient for him to appear in public, but that didn't prevent them from observing everything that happened.

The person before them bore a striking resemblance to the Saint Master of the Misty Heaven Alliance!

Although they later learned that the Saint Master had been disguised, and that the real Saint Master had gone off to attack Yuan Shisanxian, and indeed, she had succeeded, her face remained the same. Unfortunately, she had been abducted by Gongzi Yu and disappeared, causing unrest in Bianjing and the surrounding areas just to find her.

The swordsman known as "A Dot of Red in the Central Plains" had never imagined she would appear here!

Even stranger, her face bore no trace of the restraint of a captive. Instead, she held a certain innocence and carefree air, as if she were simply here for fun.

Rather, judging by his killer instinct, she looked nothing like the wielding leader of the Misty Heaven Alliance, but rather...

"Ayu!" She suddenly turned, a smile even more radiant than before. She set down the golden tube and ran in the opposite direction.

Zhongyuan Yidianhong looked in the direction of the voice and saw the man she was running towards. Though shrouded in a pitch-black cloak, he sported striking white hair and a bronze mask.

But what shocked Yidianhong the most wasn't his attire or the identity he embodied. The moment she laid eyes on him, she felt as if she were beholding a dormant beast, ready to tear everyone here to shreds.

However, as that pristine white hand wrapped around his, the lingering murderous aura vanished completely, leaving only a gentleness palpable even through the mask.

He walked up to Yidianhong. "Give your master an invitation for me."

Yidianhong didn't ask him if he recognized the wrong person.

This man had just revealed his true face in Bianjing and had done such a big thing, it was impossible for him to recognize the wrong person.

And when he stretched out his hand to take the thing handed over by Gongzi Yu, he was shocked to see that the bright red invitation was

actually an invitation to a wedding banquet!