I still remember the sudden upheaval during the ceremony, where four people died at the initial sight, leaving the Big Dipper Six Sects utterly humiliated.
Afterward, the various sects gradually departed. However, Wu Gang and Wu Xiong were injured by the 'Storm of Thunder' and left on their own. Handing them over to the initial sight might have subjected them to vengeful retaliation from Qiu Yuanfeng's faction, so Qi Yunke allowed them to recuperate in the sect's guest quarters.
This courtyard, specifically designated for visiting guests, was situated between the Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff and the Dusk Micro Palace.
Chang Ning and Cai Zhao arrived in no time, only to find the guest quarters deserted, with only a few servants who hadn’t managed to flee hiding in scattered corners. Cai Zhao pulled out a trembling servant from behind a door and asked where the Wu brothers had gone.
The servant, still shaken, knew nothing and only said the Wu brothers had left after lunch and hadn’t returned since.
Cai Zhao turned to Chang Ning. “Since we can’t find out their whereabouts, let’s shout everywhere and spread the word that these two are traitors, warning everyone to be on guard.”
Chang Ning, ever the composed gentleman, was unwilling to go around yelling like a street vendor. Just as he was about to correct the girl’s ‘brilliant idea,’ a young servant boy crawled out from under a table and timidly asked, “...Are you talking about Master Wu and Second Master Wu?”
Cai Zhao brightened. “Do you know something? Tell us quickly!”
The boy didn’t actually know much, having only overheard bits while delivering water and charcoal to the rooms.
He said, “Steward Wang asked Master Wu, ‘Apart from fresh flowers, fruits, and a bundle of incense, do you need anything else?’ Master Wu said that was enough. Then Steward Wang asked if they needed a sacrificial table brought in, but Second Master Wu declined, saying, ‘No need. Our eldest senior brother was always bold and open-minded in life, never fussing over trivialities. A bow in his direction will suffice.’”
Cai Zhao and Chang Ning exchanged glances—this was clearly the Wu brothers’ final farewell before they ‘took action.’
“Is that all? Anything else?” Cai Zhao pressed.
The boy thought hard. “Oh, Steward Wang asked if they still needed the medicinal decoction delivered today. Second Master Wu said no, that their injuries had mostly healed and it was time for them to leave. Steward Wang said he’d notify the steward at Wind Cloud Peak to prepare carriages for them. But Master Wu said there was no hurry—before leaving, they must properly bid farewell to the sect leader...” He now recalled the strange smile on Wu Gang’s face when he said this.
Cai Zhao gasped and immediately turned to run.
Regret gnawed at her, and she couldn’t help but complain to Chang Ning, “See? I told you we should’ve gone to the Dusk Micro Palace first! Now we have to go there anyway—we should’ve just listened to me from the start!”
Chang Ning followed leisurely beside her and remarked, “If Zhao Zhao is so prescient, then we should’ve skipped delivering soup and gone straight to capturing the Wu brothers.”
“Are you never going to let that go?”
“People who are engaged, regardless of gender, should behave properly and avoid randomly delivering or drinking soup. If Heroine Cai Pingshu were here, would she approve of you doing this?”
—With Cai Pingshu invoked, Cai Zhao had no choice but to seethe in silence.
By the time they reached the Dusk Micro Palace, it seemed the battle had already ended.
A group of disciples was carrying out corpses one after another—some were gray-clad men with painted masks, while others were sect disciples.
As Chang Ning and Cai Zhao made their way inside, they saw injured disciples supporting each other on their way to receive treatment. Chang Ning stopped one of them. “Were all the intruders killed?”
The disciple replied, “The ones in the Dusk Micro Palace have been dealt with. Our master instructed us to clean up first and let the injured senior brothers get treated. About a dozen fled toward the outer gates—Senior Brother Song has taken men to pursue them.”Chang Ning deliberately smiled at Cai Zhao. "I told you twenty people wouldn't cause much trouble."
The stretcher approaching them carried none other than Zeng Dalou. Cai Zhao was terrified and immediately rushed over, nearly in tears. "Senior Brother! What happened? You're not dead, are you? Are you okay? Wake up!"
Chang Ning nearly laughed at the scene.
Zeng Dalou was almost sent to the afterlife by the girl's shrieking. He tried to sit up but couldn't, so he weakly waved his hand. "Don't panic, don't panic. I'm not dead, just injured."
"You scared me to death!" Cai Zhao clutched her chest, her eyes red. "All the stretchers before carried corpses, and suddenly seeing you lying there too, I thought you were also a corpse!"
Zeng Dalou smiled bitterly. "My skills are lacking. I've shamed our master."
Cai Zhao had no time to comfort him and quickly asked, "Senior Brother, have you seen Senior Wu Gang and Wu Xiong?"
Zeng Dalou was stunned. "They just came to bid farewell to Master not long ago. Right after, the heretical villains of the Demonic Cult broke in..."
"Where are they now?" Chang Ning frowned.
"They're in Master's room talking..."
Before Zeng Dalou could finish, a flash of movement caught his eye. His junior sister flitted away like a dancing petal, charging inside with incredible speed, followed closely by a figure in wide sleeves and long robes—Chang Ning.
Zeng Dalou was taken aback. "...Chang Ning's martial arts are actually this advanced." This was his first time seeing Chang Ning display his skills after recovering.
Cai Zhao dashed like lightning straight to the side chamber of the Dusk Micro Palace's main hall. Qi Yunke's room happened to be open, and through the doorway, she saw him bent over his desk, searching for something, with Wu Xiong standing four steps behind him, his right hand slightly raised.
At this sight, Cai Zhao nearly tripped in fright and screamed, "Master, be careful behind you! He's a traitor—!"
Wu Xiong, seeing Cai Zhao rush in frantically, seemed to realize his cover was blown. His right palm flashed as he swiftly aimed a strike at the vital pressure points on Qi Yunke's back!
The moment Qi Yunke heard Cai Zhao's cry, he reflexively turned and pushed out a palm strike. That slight shift caused Wu Xiong's blade to miss its mark, only grazing Qi Yunke's left upper arm. Wu Xiong, however, was sent flying by a tremendous force, his organs rupturing as he spat blood and died instantly.
Qi Yunke staggered back two steps, clutching his left arm.
Cai Zhao rushed in to support him, trembling. "M-Master, you—"
Before she could utter another word, Chang Ning arrived like a gust of wind, his right hand moving like plucking a pipa as he swiftly struck a series of pressure points on Qi Yunke's left arm.
Before Cai Zhao could react, Qi Yunke tore open his sleeve, revealing blackened blood oozing from the wound. Cai Zhao gasped. "The dagger was poisoned!"
Qi Yunke said calmly, "It's fine. The blade didn't go deep, and Chang Ning has sealed my pressure points. I'll just need to expel the poison."
Cai Zhao quickly helped him sit on a lounge chair, and Qi Yunke immediately assumed a meditative posture.
Chang Ning stood nearby, poised and aloof. "Shall I assist the Sect Leader in expelling the poison?"
Qi Yunke, pale but still smiling gently, shook his head. "No need. You've only recently recovered from your injuries and shouldn't recklessly expend your True Qi. Zhao Zhao, fetch the bottle on the bookshelf—Zhao Zhao? What's wrong?" He noticed the girl staring blankly at Wu Xiong's corpse on the floor.
Cai Zhao's heart pounded with fear. "Wu Xiong is here... where's Wu Gang?"Upon hearing this, even Chang Ning was stunned. Qi Yunke slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Oh no! Yuzhi went to pursue the remnants of the Demonic Cult, and Wu Gang claimed he had fully recovered and wanted to lend Yuzhi a hand—so he followed along..."
Before Qi Yunke could finish saying "lend a hand," Cai Zhao had already snatched up the dagger from the ground and darted out of the room like a fluttering petal, leaving behind the words, "I'll go find my senior brother. Master, you focus on healing..."
By the time Qi Yunke uttered "followed along," Chang Ning had also quickened his pace to catch up with Cai Zhao, vanishing through the doorway in an instant.
Disciples who had rushed over upon hearing the news entered the room, only to find their sect leader sitting dazedly in the reclining chair, his left sleeve torn to reveal a bloody wound, and Wu Xiong lying lifeless in the corner.
...
In the eastern courtyard of Dusk Micro Palace, the battle was nearly over. After relentless pursuit, all the intruders who had attacked the Azure Tower Sect had been slain.
Song Yuzhi gracefully extended his arm, sending his Baihong sword into a beautiful arc. Blood droplets slid from the blade, leaving a trail of crimson on the white jade tiles. After nearly an hour of fierce combat, even the handsome young man's jade-like face was spattered with flecks of blood.
He sheathed Baihong and retrieved Qinghong from a corpse, intending to wipe it clean when he noticed Wu Gang leaning against a tree, clutching his chest and panting heavily, as if suffering from internal injuries.
At that moment, the surrounding disciples were either assisting their injured comrades or inspecting the corpses.
Song Yuzhi hesitated briefly before stepping forward to support Wu Gang, speaking gently, "Thank you for your assistance, Senior Wu. Please go to the infirmary for treatment."
Wu Gang nodded with a faint smile. "I can walk on my own. Please lead the way, Young Master Song."
Seeing Wu Gang's stubborn pride and unwillingness to accept help, Song Yuzhi released him and turned to walk ahead.
Just as Cai Zhao sprinted into view, she saw Song Yuzhi standing facing her, with Wu Gang pressing close behind him—raising his right palm, poised to strike—
Her heart leaped into her throat. Unable to speak, she immediately flung the poisoned dagger in her hand straight at Wu Gang.
Song Yuzhi had just turned when he saw Cai Zhao rushing toward him from afar, her expression frantic and terrified. And then... she threw a dagger at him?
He was stunned. Why would Zhao Zhao try to kill him? No—wait!
In a flash of insight, he understood. There was no time to turn and flee, so he channeled his Inner Force to brace for the attack.
In the blink of an eye, Cai Zhao's dagger struck Wu Gang's shoulder just as his palms slammed into Song Yuzhi's back. A surge of powerful Inner Force instantly rebounded.
Wu Gang let out a bloodcurdling scream and staggered backward, collapsing from both the counterforce of Song Yuzhi's Inner Force and the dagger wound.
Song Yuzhi took the full brunt of the two palm strikes, coughing up blood as he dropped to one knee. Cai Zhao rushed forward and caught him.
When Chang Ning arrived, this was the infuriating scene he witnessed.
Chang Ning: ...I hate the Demonic Cult.
Wu Gang lay on the ground, blood foaming at his mouth, laughing maniacally. "You've been struck by my Netherworld Chill! Even if you don't die, you'll lose half your life!"
The surrounding disciples swiftly drew their swords, encircling him.
Leaning on Cai Zhao for support, Song Yuzhi stood and glared at Wu Gang. "The Azure Tower Sect has treated you and your brother well, and I bear no grudge against you, Senior Wu. Why commit such a despicable act?"
Raised with impeccable manners, he still addressed Wu Gang respectfully even now. Had it been Cai Zhao, she would have cursed his ancestors eighteen generations back.Wu Gang's eyes were filled with venomous hatred: "With a junior like you, I indeed have no enmity, but with your grandfather—oh, the grudge runs deep! Hahaha, what a grand 'Number One Sect under Heaven,' what a pack of hypocrites! If it weren’t for that old dog Yin’s selfishness back then, refusing to trade Kaiyang for my elder brother, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a state—neither human nor ghost!"
Cai Zhao couldn’t help interjecting: "But Qingfeng Sect had only captured two Demonic Cult leaders. It’s understandable they wouldn’t want to trade them for Martial Hero Wu..."
"Bullshit!" Wu Gang roared. "My master and that old dog Yin had years of friendship! If Yin hadn’t wanted to keep Kaiyang alive to extract some secret, he would’ve gladly done the favor—why refuse?!"
Cai Zhao: "Huh?"
Years of pent-up resentment spilled out as Wu Gang no longer held back. "Even if Yin didn’t want to trade my brother, he could’ve just refused outright. My master wouldn’t have blamed him. But no—he pretended to accompany my master to negotiate with Yaoguang... Hmph! At the time, I thought Old Dog Yin was acting out of righteousness. Turns out, he’d already tortured Kaiyang for answers and wanted to trick Yaoguang into revealing more!"
"After just a few words, a fight broke out. That old dog escaped unscathed, but my master was mortally wounded!" Wu Gang’s face twisted as he wailed, tears streaming. "Had my master lived, my brother wouldn’t have suffered over a decade in the Demonic Cult with no one to care. My master would’ve found a way to save him..."
"So your enemies aren’t just Cang Qiongzi and Qiu Yuanfeng—but also Old Sect Leader Yin?" Chang Ning said calmly.
Wu Gang smirked defiantly. "Exactly. This time, we only came to kill Qi Yunke and Song Yuzhi. They’ve done me no wrong—but one is Yin’s chosen successor, the other his grandson!"
Cai Zhao cut in again: "Sect Leader Yin has more than one grandson, you know." Poor Master—so unfairly implicated as Yin’s direct disciple despite joining the sect later.
By now, the poison had fully taken hold. Wu Gang shrieked madly, "I don’t care! I want all of that old dog’s descendants dead! They promised me—as long as..." Before he could finish, black blood gushed from his mouth. After a few convulsions, he went still.
The setting sun cast a cold light over the group, sending a chill through everyone’s hearts.
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