Bi Lianyi looked up, momentarily seeming unsure of what he was talking about. After a pause, he let out an "Ah" and said, "This is unexpected. I will send someone to investigate Raging Orchid No Trace's origins as soon as possible. The palace master will return tonight, so Young Master Fu, please don't blame yourself."
Upon hearing that Wan Yu Yuedan would return that night, Fu Zhumei exhaled deeply. "Xiao Bi, I think Hong Guniang... she's waiting for you."
Bi Lianyi remained silent. Fu Zhumei ruffled his own hair. "I think... I think she really cares about you."
Bi Lianyi looked at him and smiled faintly. "Her thoughts are complicated. I wish her happiness, but I don’t want her to stray down the wrong path again."
Fu Zhumei studied his eyes carefully. "What?" Bi Lianyi asked.
Fu Zhumei shook his head, a sincere smile appearing on his face. "I never knew Xiao Bi was such a thoughtful person. You're a good man."
Bi Lianyi chuckled. For a moment, neither knew what else to say—it was as if they suddenly understood each other perfectly. Fu Zhumei scratched his head, then turned and walked away, leaving Bi Lianyi standing there alone.
He understood that Xiao Bi didn’t want to provoke Hong Guniang. If he appeared before her, she might react even more fiercely, resisting the goodwill of Azure Fall Palace.
She had to hold onto her reason and her limits. She couldn’t betray Liu Yan just because of Azure Fall Palace’s kindness and gentleness.
He understood Hong Guniang’s suffering, and so did Xiao Bi. That was why he stood there, silently waiting.
He hoped to wait for a decision.
Half a month later.
Good Cloud Mountain.
The mountain peak was shrouded in mist, the winter chill biting, yet the scenery remained lush and green.
Inside Sword Inquiry Pavilion stood a man in purple robes, gripping a halberd, one foot resting on the pavilion’s railing. The mountain wind whipped his purple cloak violently, and the mist swirled turbulently around him, defying the natural wind currents like a whirlpool beneath a waterfall.
"Who... who is that?" whispered a disciple of the Central Plains Sword Association from afar in the Hall of Sharp Virtue.
"Shh—you really don’t recognize him? That’s Raging Orchid No Trace. I heard he was once controlled by Dissolute Shop’s poisons, but now he’s awakened," someone murmured. "The moment he woke up, he rushed to Good Cloud Mountain, turned over a new leaf, and now follows the Central Plains Sword Association’s orders."
"I heard that ten years ago, he was already a senior sword evaluator for the Central Plains Sword Association. Now that he’s regained his senses, of course he’d help the Sword Association. But who would’ve thought that the deranged Raging Orchid No Trace, once awakened, would look like this?" another whispered. "Peach Girl is as beautiful as a flower, but Raging Orchid No Trace looks like a demon."
"Shh—didn’t I tell you to keep your voice down? Look at him—he’s definitely not someone to mess with. I bet those Dissolute Shop villains are in for a world of trouble if they cross him."
"Heh... good riddance if Dissolute Shop suffers. Otherwise, their poison will spread endlessly, and no one will live in peace. I heard Peach Girl call him by his name—so intimately, like they’re very close."
"Oh? His name? What’s Raging Orchid No Trace’s real name?"
"Zhu Yan. I heard Peach Girl call him Zhu Yan."
"Zhu Yan... With the way he looks, he should change his name to 'Mad Face,' 'Demon Face,' or 'Ghost Face'..."Raging Orchid No Trace stood holding his halberd atop the railing, gazing down at the mountain scenery without moving. Even from a distance, one could see his elongated face with sharp contours, his cheeks extraordinarily pale—almost bluish-white—yet with purplish-reddish blood suffusions beneath his cheekbones and eyes. Paired with his long, dark eyeliner and icy, hollow gaze, he appeared handsome, aloof, and profound, yet also brimming with sinister murderous intent, sending chills down the spines of onlookers.
A young man in green robes approached two chatting figures from behind and smiled faintly. "What are you two discussing?"
The startled pair turned and clasped their fists in unison. "Young Master Gu." The green-robed youth approaching leisurely with a sword at his waist was none other than Gu Xitan, the "Gentleman of Clear Stream," junior disciple of Cheng Yunpao. Confined by Cheng Yunpao to Azure Cloud Mountain for sword training, he had now mastered his skills and descended the mountain to aid his senior brother, having just arrived at Good Cloud Mountain. The two members of the Central Plains Sword Association looked somewhat embarrassed, hastily claiming they were discussing nothing important before taking their leave. Gu Xitan stood where they had been, gazing into the distance, where Raging Orchid No Trace stood alone in the pavilion, halberd in hand, surveying the mountains as if awaiting a formidable foe, his entire body taut with tension.
As Gu Xitan watched, a woman in peach-colored robes entered the Sword Inquiry Pavilion, smiling sweetly as she struck up a conversation with Raging Orchid No Trace. Gu Xitan faintly recognized her as Xifang Tao, an indispensable figure in the Central Plains Sword Association at this time—a benefactor of the Sword Association. Though a woman, her insight and martial prowess were second to none, a true heroine among women.
The two exchanged a few words, but strangely, Raging Orchid No Trace never turned around, speaking to Xifang Tao with his back to her. After watching for a while, Gu Xitan thought little of it and turned to head toward Cheng Yunpao's quarters.
The Sword Inquiry Pavilion was too far away, but had Gu Xitan's eyesight been sharper, he would have noticed that not only did Raging Orchid No Trace fail to turn around while speaking to Xifang Tao—he didn't even open his eyes.
"Third Brother." Xifang Tao stepped into the Sword Inquiry Pavilion with a radiant smile, her delicate beauty brightening the mist-shrouded pavilion like a blooming flower.
Raging Orchid No Trace did not turn. Still facing the mountains, he closed his eyes. "I despise hypocrisy."
"Zhu Yan, since you hate hypocrisy, I'll be direct." Xifang Tao's charming smile vanished in an instant. "I understand how difficult it must have been for you to stand here now. You overcame the Needle Injury, the Poison Affliction, the long period of emptiness, and the bone-deep resentment—all in just half a month—and fully regained yourself. Frankly, it far exceeded my expectations."
Raging Orchid No Trace remained silent. Xifang Tao raised a hand to lightly touch her own face. "I also understand why you could let go of your hatred for me, why you recovered so quickly, and why you now stand here obediently before me... You want to see her, and she is in my hands."
"I hate that face of yours." Raging Orchid No Trace's voice was cold. "It's grating to look at."
Xifang Tao laughed softly. "If you hate my face, how will you ever see Xue Tao...? This face of mine is now identical to hers. Though you can't see her now, looking at my face should offer some comfort, no? She is in my hands, living well and peacefully...""What have you done to her?" Raging Orchid No Trace asked in a low voice. Xifang Tao leaned against the railing with a smile, "Her? If you're willing, I can let you see her once. The price is killing someone for me. Are you willing?" Raging Orchid No Trace's voice was icy and hoarse, "Who?" Xifang Tao replied softly, "Wan Yu Yuedan." Without even a flicker of his eyelashes, Raging Orchid No Trace answered, "Fine." Xifang Tao continued gently, "He's your benefactor. Can you really bring yourself to kill him?" Raging Orchid No Trace said coldly, "My entire life exists only for Xue Tao. Nothing else matters." Xifang Tao smiled enchantingly, "Sometimes I think if I were as devoted as you, perhaps my cousin would have married me long ago." She turned, sleeves billowing, and walked away, "After you kill Wan Yu Yuedan, I'll tell you where she is."
"Once I see Xue Tao, I'll take her away," Raging Orchid No Trace said darkly, "And the next thing I'll do is kill you—"
Xifang Tao's steps remained unhurried, "As you should." Her figure gradually faded into the mist.
Raging Orchid No Trace lifted his halberd and drove it forcefully into the ground. The sound of splitting rock echoed as the ten-foot weapon embedded itself a foot deep into the stone, standing upright. He was no fool—Xifang Tao wanted him to kill Wan Yu Yuedan precisely because he had the least reason to do so, making it easiest to succeed. After the deed, she would surely claim he'd been poisoned and mentally unstable, throwing him into a situation where enemies surrounded him on all sides—killing two birds with one stone. This wasn't even a proper strategy, just a trap she'd dug, waiting for him to willingly jump in.
She had calculated his nature correctly—he was profound, but more importantly, he was arrogant.
He never sought advantage or avoided harm, only did what he wanted to do, walked only the path he chose. Whether ahead lay traps or smooth roads, mountains of blades or seas of fire—to Zhu Yan, it was all the same.
He wanted to see Xue Tao. No matter how many he had to kill, no matter what methods he had to use, he would see her. It was that simple.
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