Everyone present paled upon hearing this. Wen Moyin knew that Cen Ji would most likely not comply, so he was not surprised by this turn of events.
She walked gracefully to Cen Ji's side and said in a clear voice, "It is agreed by both the current master and Mo Yin that my husband should take charge of the household. But now that my husband has said this, are you mocking the master for not having discernment?"
Cen Ji raised an eyebrow and said, "No, Mo Yin, you've misunderstood."
Wen Moyin didn't want Cen Ji to explain, and immediately interrupted, "Or is it that my husband is belittling himself so much that he wants the world to laugh at me for marrying the wrong person?"
Wen Moyin kept calling him "husband," subtly reminding others of Cen Ji's special status, but secretly placing a huge burden on him, forcing him to comply in order to save face for Kongshanling.
Wen Moyin knew that Cen Ji was a steady and meticulous person who always knew how to consider the big picture, which was why he devised this plan to force him into the position of Master Kongshan.
Cen Ji pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time. After a while, he turned to face the crowd and said loudly, "Everyone, Cen Ji declined the position of Ridge Master only because I decided to leave Kongshan Ridge. After the Kongshan Sacrifice, Cen Ji will have no further connection with Kongshan Ridge."
After he finished speaking, Nanfeng fell into a deathly silence. The heroes looked at each other, and seven out of the ten people looked puzzled.
Wen Moyin suddenly looked up, staring intently at Cen Ji, her eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment.
"You..." She could only utter one word before she could no longer speak.
After the initial shock, everyone began to whisper among themselves.
"What if I don't allow it?" Wen Moyin said, enunciating each word clearly.
Cen Ji met Wen Moyin's gaze, suddenly reached out, gently smoothed her furrowed brows, and said calmly, "My mind is made up."
An uproar arose. Those who insisted on leaving Kongshanling without permission would be considered traitors.
In fact, Cen Ji's words were no different from divorcing his wife. However, compared to betraying Kongshanling, few people realized the former. In addition, everyone was quite puzzled by Cen Ji's decision, and for a moment no one thought that Cen Ji and Wen Moyin still had a marital relationship.
Wen Moyin never expected that Cen Ji would choose to betray her. Her eyes widened, her teeth clenched, and after a long while, she finally managed to utter a sentence: "Do you know the consequences of betraying Kongshanling?"
He remained silent.
The sunlight shone on his face and body, making him look like a heavy sword wrapped in a faint golden light, which was astonishing but dared not look directly at him.
He took two steps forward, suddenly pulled out the dagger Huaying from his waist, and then raised his right arm to present Huaying to everyone.
"Twelve years ago, when Kongshanling gave this knife to Cenji, Cenji swore he would never betray Kongshanling. Now Cenji knows he has broken his promise and should repay it with his blood."
Suddenly, he swung his right arm, and the dagger, Huaying, was unsheathed, its cold light gleaming so brightly that even the sunlight seemed to grow colder. As the dagger twirled in mid-air, no one saw how Cen Ji made his move, but then a "whoosh" was heard, and the foot-long Huaying pierced through his shoulder.
Everyone gasped softly; such a turn of events was something no one had anticipated.
Upon seeing this, Wen Moyin almost cried out. She bit her lower lip tightly, her whole body trembling almost imperceptibly, whether from hatred or anger, it was hard to tell.
She instinctively reached out and grabbed the corner of the offering table beside her, gripping it tightly. She glared at Cen Ji, but didn't utter a single word. Between the reputation of Kongshan Ridge and Cen Ji's life, she would ultimately have to choose one!
Cen Ji pursed his thin lips and suddenly pulled the dagger from his left shoulder.
The cyan light of the dagger was submerged in a sea of blood. Wen Moyin clearly saw the blood shoot out like arrows from the blade, splashing out in beautiful, bizarre patterns at his feet.
Cen Ji's hand holding Hua Ying's showed no tremor; instead, it exuded an imposing aura that silenced the surrounding area.
"Twelve years ago, it was Kongshanling that led me to the bloody and cruel assassin's hunting grounds." As he spoke, blood kept seeping from his wounds, and the bloodstains on his clothes grew larger and larger, but Cen Ji's eyes grew deeper and deeper.
After a pause, Cen Ji suddenly raised his hand and plunged the still-warm blade into his right shoulder.
"If it weren't for Kongshan Ridge, Cen Ji might have already died in the brutal fighting in the assassin's encirclement." As he spoke, Cen Ji extended his long arm, and the dagger, with its shadow, sprayed out a spurt of blood.
Wen Moyin's face was stiff as stone; she could even hear the blood falling to the ground as softly as a sigh.
For a moment, no one spoke; only the north wind whistling through the air and the heavy breathing of everyone could be heard on the South Peak.
“I am fortunate to have served Kongshanling for the past twelve years.” Cen Ji slowly turned around, his deep gaze sweeping over Wen Moyin’s pale face. “I am even more fortunate to have won the favor of the young lady of Kongshanling.”
Wen Moyin finally couldn't hold back any longer. With a soft cry, she watched helplessly as the blood-stained blade pierced Cen Ji's ribs, all the way to the hilt.
"But I have let you down."
master
The moment he drew his sword, Wen Moyin saw the dejection and weariness on Cen Ji's face.
"So you'd rather die than stay by my side." Her calm voice sounded like she was talking to herself, or perhaps she was talking about something that had nothing to do with her.
The blood that was still slowly gathering on the tip of the knife dripped onto the ground.
Cen Ji swayed slightly and slowly walked to Wen Moyin's side. He reached out as if to smooth Wen Moyin's furrowed brows, but stopped abruptly just as his fingers touched her.
He looked at his fingertips, stained with blood, smiled helplessly, and withdrew his hand.
"You are my wife, and it is my responsibility to take care of you."
Wen Moyin's expression shifted slightly.
“Moyin, I have no ambition, and I'm easily content with the status quo. I've never even considered what I could do besides being a bodyguard, or what I could do besides killing. I've never disobeyed you in the past because I didn't know what was worth fighting for. But…”
His eyes suddenly brightened. "I've found something I'd do anything to achieve."
For a moment, his expression resembled that of someone who had guarded their life savings, finally able to use their entire fortune to reclaim their lost youth.
He once said that doing what you love always comes at a price. He finally met his match, but the price he had to pay was his life.