"Hey! Xiao Bi?" Fu Zhumei saw him spitting out that strange blood and knew it must have scalded his lungs and trachea. He hurriedly helped him sit up. Fortunately, the twelve silver needles Wenren He had inserted took effect. After sitting quietly for a while, the bleeding gradually stopped. Bi Lianyi breathed very weakly but couldn't utter a single word.
Xiao Bi would be alright. Fu Zhumei let him lean against the wall to rest with his eyes closed, then carefully got off the bed, afraid of disturbing even a single strand of Bi Lianyi's hair.
Everything would slowly get better—Xiao Bi's feelings for Hong Guniang, the future of Azure Fall Palace, the future of the martial world, A-Li's future... He ruffled his hair. He always believed everything would improve, but in reality, not everything truly did! Still, whether things would actually get better or not, he held onto that hope.
Ri Ai Residence.
After Bi Lianyi was severely injured, Wan Yu Yuedan stayed in his room for a while before quickly returning to his own quarters. Tie Jing followed closely behind him and watched as he groped for a piece of clothing, a few taels of silver, and several bottles of pills, bundling them together. Given Zhu Yan's recent intrusion into the palace, Tie Jing was extra cautious. Seeing him pack, he blurted out, "Palace Master, are you leaving?"
Wan Yu Yuedan smiled. "I'll be away for a few days."
Tie Jing frowned. "I'll inform Yan'er. Where is the Palace Master going?"
"This time, I won't be taking anyone with me." Wan Yu Yuedan picked up the bundle he had just packed and straightened his clothes. "I'm not sure when I'll return. Until I do, palace affairs will be handled by Brother Bi. If he's still weak from his injuries, you and Yan'er can first consult Elder Bi, then seek Elder Wenren's opinion."
Tie Jing was shocked. "Palace Master, you're not taking anyone? That's impossible! No one in the palace would feel at ease letting you leave like this. Let Tie Jing and Yan'er accompany you."
Wan Yu Yuedan turned and beckoned to Tie Jing. Concerned, Tie Jing stepped closer. "Palace Master, what are your—" Suddenly, his waist went numb. Wan Yu Yuedan's right hand withdrew from his side, and Tie Jing collapsed in horror. The Palace Master had struck him down with the "Qilin Thorn" at his waist—why?
Wan Yu Yuedan gave him an apologetic yet gentle smile, then used both hands to drag him all the way to his own bed. He had intended to lift Tie Jing onto the bed, but his strength was insufficient, so he had to let him lie on the floor. He took the embroidered quilt from the bed and draped it over Tie Jing, then moved the jade pillow under his head, carefully arranging everything to ensure Tie Jing was comfortable before standing up again.
As Tie Jing watched him adjust the quilt, his shock grew. Wan Yu Yuedan was truly preparing to leave alone. But he was blind—how could he leave by himself? And where could he go?
Just as he was filled with confusion and worry, a stifling breeze drifted in from outside, carrying a familiar warmth. He saw a shadow cast on the wall—a tall figure with wild, unkempt hair. When the breeze passed, it seemed to carry a faint trace of blood.Could it be—Tie Jing saw that the figure was missing its right arm, his shock reaching an indescribable level—could it be Raging Orchid No Trace? Impossible! He had just retreated in defeat, had just had his arm severed by Fu Zhumei, had just suffered severe injuries—how could he suddenly return? Who could be so fiercely relentless?
“You came so quickly.” Wan Yu Yuedan’s voice rang out, delicate and soft compared to the hot wind blowing in from outside, tinged with a hint of excitement, like a child who had guessed a riddle correctly. “A warrior capable of wielding an eight-foot-long sword and a ten-foot halberd would surely not retreat from adversity but grow fiercer in battle. I expected you would return, but not this soon.”
Zhu Yan’s voice showed no trace of exhaustion from his severe injury, as if he had never possessed that right arm to begin with. “You packed your belongings—are you so confident I won’t kill you?” Wan Yu Yuedan’s eyes, clear and bright, widened slightly with earnestness. “I’ve always been very confident.” The wound on Zhu Yan’s severed arm had been treated and bandaged, though it was unclear how he had managed it with only his left hand. The bandaging was meticulous. He leaned on a bamboo pole with his left hand, yet in his grip, it was no different from a halberd. “Killing you would be effortless.”
“Azure Fall Palace bears no enmity toward you. If you wish to kill me, there must be a reason, no?” Wan Yu Yuedan carried the haphazardly packed bundle on his back, appearing like a gentle, delicate youth. “Is there something you desire that you cannot attain, and someone has promised it to you?” he asked softly. “Killing me, even for someone as fearless as you, would bring endless trouble. If you believe in my capabilities, could you tell me—what was promised to you? What is so important that only my head can secure it, with no other alternative?” He gazed in Zhu Yan’s direction with a serene expression. “Azure Fall Palace has never harbored any intent to harm you.”
Zhu Yan’s eyes flickered. If Wan Yu Yuedan could see, he would have noticed their sharpness, filled with a savage, bloodthirsty ferocity. This demonic glare lasted for a long moment before he finally spoke in a low voice, “I’m looking for someone.” Slowly, Wan Yu Yuedan raised a scroll from his sleeve. “Is this the lady you seek?”
Zhu Yan’s gaze swept over it, and in an instant, the bamboo pole in his left hand shattered, its segments reduced to ashes. His voice was deep and deliberate as he asked, “Where did you find this portrait?” Just then, a voice neither loud nor soft, neither fast nor slow, interjected, “That portrait belongs to me.” Wan Yu Yuedan smiled as a figure descended gracefully from the rafters—a strikingly handsome man with a memorable scar on his face. It was Shen Langhun, disguised as “Pan Ruo’an.”
As it turned out, Shen Langhun had arrived at Azure Fall Palace that very morning. After briefly explaining Tang Lici’s predicament, he handed over the portrait Tang Lici had taken from Wangting Manor. The portrait bore a striking resemblance to Xifang Tao and had been enshrined in a hidden stronghold of Dissolute Shop, indicating the woman depicted was of great importance—likely already gravely ill or deceased. Tang Lici hoped Wan Yu Yuedan could uncover the identity of the woman in the portrait. If she had already passed away, the missing ice coffin Fang Zhou had lost might have been taken by Xifang Tao for her use. This woman was undoubtedly connected to a major secret within Dissolute Shop.Wan Yu Yuedan naturally couldn't see the appearance of the woman in the painting, but he had already heard in detail from Plum Blossom Numerology that both Raging Orchid No Trace and Yu Konghou under the alias "Xifang Tao" had feelings for Yu Konghou's cousin Xue Tao. If the woman in the painting looked extremely similar to "Xifang Tao," who else could she be but Xue Tao? And with Raging Orchid No Trace's martial prowess, what else in this world besides "love" could make him charge through fire and water, even disregarding gratitude and righteousness? Earlier, when Raging Orchid No Trace had suddenly appeared, he hadn't brought the portrait with him, but now he was fully prepared.
Sure enough, as soon as the portrait was revealed, Raging Orchid No Trace's demeanor changed abruptly. Shen Langhun appeared at just the right moment, and Wan Yu Yuedan felt even more composed, smiling faintly as he asked, "Is this young lady Xue Tao?"
Zhu Yan stared unblinkingly at the portrait. The face of the person in the painting was almost identical to Xifang Tao's, but to him, there was clearly a world of difference. "Where is she?" The brilliance in Zhu Yan's eyes grew increasingly intense, sharp and terrifying. "Speak!" Shen Langhun replied calmly, "This portrait belongs to me." Zhu Yan abruptly looked up at him. Shen Langhun continued indifferently, "Young Master Tang Lici and I found this portrait inside Wangting Manor. Wangting Manor is a secret stronghold of the Dissolute Shop. If the painting was there, I suspect the person might be as well." However, he didn't mention that the figure in the painting looked peculiar, as if not alive. The fine wrinkles at the corners of Wan Yu Yuedan's eyes relaxed slightly, his expression clear and bright. "Yu Konghou..." As soon as he uttered the name, the killing intent around Zhu Yan intensified dramatically. Wan Yu Yuedan pretended not to notice and continued, "...also has feelings for Miss Xue. Given his character, even if you take my head back today, do you truly believe he would return Miss Xue to you?" His eyes shimmered faintly, carrying a trace of sorrow, yet the corners of his mouth still curved in a smile. "Or rather—what kind of Miss Xue would he return to you?"
Zhu Yan clasped his hands behind his back, silently pondering. He was peerlessly brave in martial arts, but he was no fool. Yu Konghou was sinister and ruthless—he would never relinquish what he couldn't obtain. "Are you saying—he would return a corpse to me?" he asked darkly. "Would he dare?" Wan Yu Yuedan countered, "Wouldn't he?" Zhu Yan scoffed. "So you're suggesting I go to Wangting Manor to find her myself, rather than wait for Yu Konghou to hand her over, lest he go mad and kill Xue Tao. Hmph! Do you think I don't see your intention—both you and he want to dismantle Wangting Manor, but neither of you has the ability—"
"Correct." Wan Yu Yuedan smiled faintly, admitting frankly. "I hope you can raze Wangting Manor to the ground. You want to save Miss Xue Tao, and I also have someone I wish to save. You want to kill Yu Konghou, and so do I. That's all there is to it." He spoke slowly. "I don't want to see a corpse in Wangting Manor, nor do I want you to see another corpse there. Our martial skills are insufficient to shake Wangting Manor, but to find Miss Xue's whereabouts, you also need our help, don't you? If we fail to rescue Miss Xue this time, Wan Yu Yuedan remains at your mercy—to kill or spare, as you wish."
Zhu Yan abruptly flicked his sleeve and said coldly, "Agreed!" He cared not with whom he cooperated nor with whom he spoke. Any method would do, as long as it let him see Xue Tao as soon as possible.He had to see Xue Tao—he had something to say to her!
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