The clouds drifted ethereally, the sky was clear and bright. The forces of Good Cloud Mountain had been divided into several groups, preparing for the journey to Bodhi Valley. Tang Lici assigned Qi Xing to oversee lodging and rest stops along the way, while Zheng Yue had already taken the vanguard to scout the terrain. The battle with the Dissolute Shop was imminent. Yu Konghou merely stood by, watching with a faint smile. Due to Tang Lici's strict orders in recent days—no one was to act alone without a group of five—he hadn’t found another opportunity to impersonate Tang Lici and commit murders. But framing others was only one of the methods to force Tang Lici out.
He believed a certain someone should be arriving soon.
A soft click sounded as the window lattice opened. Yu Konghou, his dark hair loose, had just removed his hairpin. Hearing the noise, he smiled slightly. "You're here?"
The figure who pushed open the window wore yellow robes and carried a red fan, appearing as composed as ever—it was Fang Pingzhai. He had leaped over the gates of the Hall of Sharp Virtue, passed through layers of inner and outer defenses as if they were nothing, and now stepped into Yu Konghou’s room as casually as one might enter their own guest quarters, without disturbing a speck of dust. "Seventh Brother," he flicked his red fan, "tell me the truth—did you already know about the Baiyun Valley incident? Even... before the imperial court sent troops?"
"If I tell you the truth, will it ease your mind?" Yu Konghou turned, his black hair cascading over his shoulders, his demeanor almost coquettish. "Or—if I tell you the truth, will you kill me?"
"Seventh Brother, you know my nature well." Fang Pingzhai’s fan handle rested between his index and middle fingers, motionless. "I’m asking you calmly. Just answer truthfully, and I won’t lose my temper."
"Sixth Brother always keeps his word," Yu Konghou slowly turned his face. "Yes, I knew long before the court sent troops. But I didn’t intervene to save them." His voice was deliberate. "To me, and to the people of Baiyun Valley, their purpose was to help you restore the Great Zhou and reclaim the throne. Their deaths could steel your resolve. I believe that even in the afterlife, they would rest in peace. Sixth Brother, you could have restored the dynasty. The Dissolute Shop has spent ten years scheming, its influence seeping into every faction, even the imperial court. With a single nod from you—whether the throne or the Martial Arts World—all could be yours... But you hesitated. You’ve hesitated all this time..." His tone was gentle, but his words were icy. "Had you made this decision five years ago, or even two, the Great Zhou would already be restored, the world would belong to the Chai family, and the people of Baiyun Valley might have returned home in glory, even lived in wealth and honor. But now, when you’ve finally awakened, restoring the dynasty is no longer as easy as it was two years ago. Standing between us is Tang Lici—from this perspective, the people of Baiyun Valley died too late, not that they shouldn’t have died at all." He stared coldly at Fang Pingzhai. "Now that you’ve heard my truth, do you resent me? Does it grieve you?"Fang Pingzhai stood motionless for a long while before the red fan swayed slightly. "One with the makings of an emperor can endure harsh truths. Though you schemed extensively regarding White Cloud Gully and showed neither compassion nor righteousness, it was ultimately the imperial troops who slaughtered the village. I cannot hate you," he said calmly. "I should hate myself. Indeed, had I resolved myself two years ago—or even ten years ago—not only would the people of White Cloud Gully have survived, but they could have returned to their homeland to enjoy wealth and honor. It was I who doomed my kin, not you." He drew a deep breath. "You had no obligation to save anyone. I cannot blame you as the murderer simply because you chose not to intervene."
"Sixth Brother remains ever rational." Yu Konghou smiled. "Since you know the truth yet still bear no hatred for me, does this mean you've resolved to walk the path of restoration?" Fang Pingzhai clenched his fist around the red-feathered fan. "I have no choice. This was decided from the moment I was born—was it not?" Yu Konghou laughed heartily. "Excellent. Do you know what I've always admired most about you, Sixth Brother? You—despite your deep sense of loyalty—your heart is ruthless enough. When you resolved to kill Third Brother, you also resolved to poison Fourth Brother. When you resolved to escape the identity of 'Chai Xijin,' you could abandon everything in White Cloud Gully. And now that you've resolved to restore the kingdom, you can cast aside all the hypocrisies of 'Fang Pingzhai' and do whatever 'Chai Xijin' must do! Sixth Brother, you often horrify and surprise those close to you, those who trust you—because you always have another side no one dares believe exists."
"No need to provoke me." A wisp of smoke slowly rose from the fan in Fang Pingzhai's grip. By the time the smoke dissipated, the red fan had been charred by True Power, crumbling into broken fragments of scorched ash. He opened his fingers, letting the remnants drift to the ground. "I know very well what I've decided and the path I must take. But there are words I must say first."
"What conditions?"
"If the Great Zhou is restored, I demand two lives as sacrifices to the realm." Fang Pingzhai spoke slowly. "The first is Zhu Yan. The second... is you."
Yu Konghou continued to smile. "Sixth Brother is indeed Sixth Brother."
"Now, can you tell me why you're aiding my restoration?" Fang Pingzhai finally shifted his gaze from the ashes in his hand to Yu Konghou. "You gain nothing from helping me. In fact, at the moment of success, I will demand your death."
"My cousin is dead," Yu Konghou replied, his smile radiant. "Why should I care about life or death? I care only for the process. I merely wish to prove—" He exhaled softly into the air. "Whoever I wish to grant the world, shall have it. Whoever I wish to bury alongside my elder brother, whoever I wish to bury alongside my cousin—they shall be buried." He paused briefly. "As for the world itself, I care not."
"Elder Brother said you intend to march against Liao to reclaim Yan and Yun. Is this true?"
"True." Yu Konghou's voice was gentle. "Whoever I wish to grant the world shall have it. Whoever I wish to win shall win; whoever I wish to lose shall lose."
Fang Pingzhai stared unblinkingly at Yu Konghou. This man was undoubtedly mad—a familiar kind of madness. Or perhaps... in some way, Seventh Brother and Tang Lici were the same kind of person. Even their madness bore eerie similarities. But Sixth Brother no longer had anything left to protect, and so that madness now manifested outwardly, etched into his very bones.Using this man's power to restore the kingdom was feasible. This madman only wanted to prove himself and posed no threat to him. Fang Pingzhai thought with cold clarity, then let out a chilling laugh. Perhaps he truly was born without goodness in him—abandoning everything he had built over a decade came so easily, so effortlessly that it didn’t even bring him to tears.
The moral dilemmas of the past, the distinctions between noblemen and villains, principles and styles—all had turned to mist. He had expected to struggle, to suffer, but there was none of that. After taking the first step, his heart only felt icy cold. From then on, everything was set in stone, devoid of pain, leaving him no choice but to walk this path step by step.
When a person becomes utterly ruthless toward themselves, they no longer perceive the suffering of others as suffering.
"Sixth Brother, since you’ve made up your mind, there’s one thing you must do." Yu Konghou paid no heed to Fang Pingzhai’s indifferent gaze. "Regarding Liu Yan—"
"What about him?"
"Capture Liu Yan," Yu Konghou said. "And kill A Shui."
——
Phoenix Cry Mountain.
Chicken Coop Mountain Manor.
Fang Pingzhai had been gone for several days, and dust had settled in his room. Liu Yan sat in the manor’s main hall. The day before, Tang Lici had sent someone to arrange their departure to another safe location, mentioning that Yu Tuan'er had already been sent ahead by Shen Langhun. Liu Yan and A Shui had packed their belongings and were ready to leave today.
They had no intention of waiting for Fang Pingzhai.
Fang Pingzhai had always followed his whims—when he wanted to come, he would come; when he decided to leave, it meant he would not return. Both A Shui and Liu Yan understood that he was facing a difficult situation, and they hoped he would overcome it. With his intelligence and martial prowess, as long as he didn’t encounter an opponent like Zhu Yan, traveling alone wouldn’t pose much danger. Thus, neither of them planned to wait for his return.
They both thought he wouldn’t come back.
But they were both wrong.
Today was overcast, and by dusk, the sky had darkened so much that the scenery outside the door lost all color. A Shui was inside packing essential belongings, while Liu Yan remained seated in the hall. Just as the sky reached its darkest, before the stars had even begun to appear, a figure slowly stepped through the door—clad in bright yellow robes, his gait as steady as ever.
Liu Yan was taken aback. "Fang Pingzhai?"
The newcomer smiled. "Master." Backlit, Liu Yan couldn’t make out his expression, but he could see that the red fan was no longer in his hand. Instead, he held a short, snow-white flying blade, its coiled form shimmering with an eerie glow in the dim light, almost like an ornament.
The moment his gaze fell upon the blade, a chill ran through Liu Yan’s eyes. "You—"
"I’ve come to reclaim my drum," Fang Pingzhai said calmly. "Master, you were right—I do as I please, but I can’t help but think." Liu Yan remained silent, staring at the blade in his hand. "In the end, you couldn’t let go."
Fang Pingzhai spoke slowly. "That day… if you had urged me to give up, perhaps I would have. But you didn’t."
Liu Yan said, "Perhaps I was wrong again, terribly wrong."
Fang Pingzhai shook his head. "No, Master. You were simply kind-hearted. You told me the truth… and for that, I’m grateful."
Liu Yan gave a faint smile. "You’ve returned—what is it you intend to do?""I'll take you away and kill A Shui," Fang Pingzhai's voice remained calm. "Master, I don't expect anyone's understanding, but this is my path, and I must walk it." As the two spoke, A Shui had already packed her belongings and stepped out of the room. Seeing Fang Pingzhai, she was startled at first, then broke into a smile. "Brother Fang..."
A faint "snap" sounded, and suddenly she saw a few drops of blood splatter before her eyes. Then everything went black as she collapsed forward. Only when she hit the ground with a "thud" did she feel the searing pain in her chest. Dazedly lifting her head, she saw Fang Pingzhai effortlessly lift Liu Yan and drift away as if weightless. Pressing against her chest, she found a snow-white flying blade embedded in her heart—this kind of hidden weapon... that day... she had seen it when the nineteen Shaolin monks tried to capture Liu Yan, back then—
Her thoughts abruptly ended. Before sinking into complete darkness, a fleeting wish flashed through her mind like lightning—If I die, will Young Master Tang know?
Why did she so desperately want him to know of her death? She could no longer ponder it. In her moments of clarity, she had fervently wished to leave Tang Lici behind, to live her quiet, simple life, never to hear his name again. Yet at death's door, she longed for him to learn of her demise—even if it was just a passing whisper, enough for him to nod in acknowledgment.
"Waaah—" From inside the room, Feng Feng burst into heart-wrenching sobs. The sky darkened to its deepest hue, gradually swallowing the bloodstains into the night.
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