A smile can topple a city

Chapter 52

Although Ye Xiao's martial arts skills were low, her reaction was fast. Her lightness skill was also her most outstanding skill. She quickly sidestepped the iron balls, but felt something like a mountain pressing down on her, and suddenly everything went dark.

Several deafening booms nearly knocked Ye Xiao unconscious, and her hearing seemed to vanish instantly; for a moment, she could barely hear anything. After a while, she heard someone shouting something. Suddenly, her vision brightened, and she felt a lightness on her body as the mountain pressing down on her shifted away. She then clearly heard Feng Sihai calling out, "Young Master... Young Master!"

A jolt went through her, and she quickly scrambled to her feet. The smoke of battle hadn't cleared, and the air reeked of sulfur. Boss Zhou was nowhere to be seen, and several people from Fallen Leaf Manor were wounded, groaning loudly, covered in blood. She turned her head, anxiously searching for someone, and finally saw a group of people gathered around, shouting something. Ye Xiao rushed over and finally saw Luo Qingcheng lying motionless in the middle, his face covered in blood…

"Qingcheng, Qingcheng." It felt as if a giant hammer had struck her heart, a pain so intense it was almost unbearable. Ye Xiao instinctively squeezed into the crowd, embracing the person beside her. She dared not call his name, nor dared she reach out to check his breath… She felt the world change color, the surroundings become silent, and apart from the body in her arms, she felt nothing, and could not think of anything…

A gentle breeze ruffled Ye Xiao's hair. She finally felt someone nudging her. She looked up blankly and saw Feng Sihai's pitying old eyes. "That was the 'Chain of Fire Thunder' from the Seven Masters of Heavenly Craftsmanship. It injured Lian Da, but the young master was knocked unconscious. He's alright. Let's go back to the manor first."

Ye Xiao then reached out and touched Luo Qingcheng's body. It was warm and soft, his chest rising and falling slightly, but... She touched the blood on his face and looked up helplessly at Feng Sihai. Feng Sihai understood her meaning and comforted her, "He was cut on the head by a piece of iron from the Fire Thunder, and he bled a lot, but I've already applied some wound medicine to stop the bleeding... He's alright. Miss Ye, let's go back first... It'll probably be a while before he wakes up."

Ye Xiao, in a daze, let Feng Sihai lead her into the carriage. The carriage bumped and jolted along the road, her eyes fixed on the still unconscious Luo Qingcheng, her mind still blank. A low groan came, and she finally noticed that the person who had been unconscious had moved. "Qingcheng..." she leaned over and called to him, half surprised and half delighted.

Luo Qingcheng opened his eyes painfully, feeling dizzy and disoriented. After a long while, he opened them again and saw Ye Xiao's worried eyes. "Xiao Xiao... are you alright?" He leaned forward slightly, trying to sit up.

Ye Xiao quickly pressed him down: "Don't move... you've been injured in the explosion, it's serious."

Luo Qingcheng finally remembered everything that had happened before, and groaned, "Chain of Fireballs... How could that person have Chain of Fireballs..."

Only after confirming that Luo Qingcheng was unharmed did Ye Xiao feel relieved. Her little brain then started working again: "Chain Fire Thunderbolt? Wasn't that the famous firearm that Lu Mingfei used when he was arrogant in the martial world? Has it not disappeared from the martial world yet?"

Luo Qingcheng closed his eyes, offering no explanation. After a long while, he whispered, "Xiaoxiao... can I ask you for a favor?"

"What?" Ye Xiao hugged him tightly with pity. "You're injured... Rest more and don't think too much."

“I know… Xiao Wan is closely related to Brother Yang’s death, but she was misled. Can you please let her go for my sake?”

"..." Ye Xiao slowly released him, retreating into the corner without uttering a word. In his heart, Shen Wan was so important; having just escaped death, he was already thinking of pleading for her...

Luo Qingcheng struggled to lift his head, pondering Ye Xiao's gloomy expression: "I know you hate her for colluding with outsiders and harming Brother Yang, but she... is ultimately just a pitiful, weak orphan. Xiao Xiao, consider it a favor I owe you."

Ye Xiao remained silent.

Luo Qingcheng's injuries were indeed not serious, and he quickly regained his strength. He had just eaten a little something when someone came to report that they had seen Ye Xiao rushing towards Shen Wan's room with murderous intent. Luo Qingcheng jumped up in surprise and ran towards Shen Wan's residence, only to find the two of them standing silently facing each other in a courtyard.

"Xiaoxiao..." he called out nervously, looking at Ye Xiao's unfriendly expression.

Ye Xiao nodded to him: "You're here...good. I want to clarify some things. After everything is clarified, you can decide whether or not you still want to speak up for her."

Luo Qingcheng sighed. Why bother? In truth, his mind was already clear and lucid.

“Miss Shen,” Ye Xiao looked at Shen Wan, carefully choosing her words, “Actually, I’ve had some doubts about you for a long time. But Qingcheng always trusted you completely, so I thought I was wrong. That time at Langjing Manor, you tipped us off, saying that Manor Master Yuan wanted to kill Luo Qingcheng, and told us to take him and escape. As a result, we almost fell into the Martial Alliance’s trap and were wiped out. Was that the first time you tried to kill us?”

Shen Wan said calmly, "That's right. That time I received a secret order to pretend to inform you, but in reality, it was because you fell into the trap. If you are eliminated by the Martial Alliance, we can take the opportunity to confirm your crime of killing Young Master Hanwei, killing two birds with one stone."

Ye Xiao nodded: "And that time, the time we planned to retrieve the treasure from Tianbao Inn, it was you who tipped off the enemy, which made it easy for them to see through our scheme and use Shan'er to blackmail us and take the box... although it was actually a smokescreen."

Shen Wan nodded again: "That's right. While I was buying breakfast, I found the secret contact point and told the enemy everything."

"The time the Golden Dragon succeeded at the Mountain God Temple, it was you who attracted the enemy and caused us to be separated from Xiao Xun."

"yes……"

"Then there's the capital city. Qingcheng found us a place to stay in the morning, and by noon there were suspicious people loitering around the alleyway."

"I left traces on the road to lure the martial arts alliance here."

"And then there's the matter of Fallen Leaf Manor... which you also leaked. As for Wan San's death, I suspect it was your doing?"

Shen Wan sighed, "That's right, it was all me. I received a secret order that Wan San knew some important secrets and had to be silenced. There were clear instructions on how to do it, and someone even delivered the poisonous beetles to the manor. I just followed the plan and killed him... You guessed what happened at Xingyu Tower later..."

Ye Xiao slowly raised her eyes, tears welling up in her large eyes: "...Okay, I want to hear how Brother Yang Dui died?"

Shen Wan lowered her head and began to briefly recount what happened that day.

That night, Shen Wan quietly set off for Xingyu Tower to deliver the message, arriving at the inn after midnight. Boss Zhou invited her to a private meeting in Xinglin.

"The people from Lonely Cloud Fortress have arrived," Shen Wan said in a low voice.

"Oh? Why haven't you done what I asked you to do yet?"

"I didn't have time... I'll try again."

"Hurry up. If Lonely Cloud Fortress and Fallen Leaf Manor join forces, things will be very disadvantageous for us." Boss Zhou seemed a little impatient.

"Okay... By the way, I heard they set up a Heaven-Destroying Earth-Shattering Array in Fallen Leaf Manor. I wonder if this information is useful?"

"The Heaven-Destroying Earth-Extinction Formation! Really? That scoundrel Lu Mingfei, even after death, his ghost still lingers. Such a heinous thing still exists in the world... It's true what they say, if you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring breeze... Are we going to have to return empty-handed again this time?"

"Is this formation that powerful? I've searched the whole village, but I can't find it anywhere..."

"Hmm... there are some mystical techniques involved... I only witnessed the power of this formation once back then... people always thought it had disappeared from the world..."

A bird's call suddenly came from somewhere in the apricot grove, as if a small bird had been startled awake from its sweet dream. "Who's there?" Boss Zhou was very alert and quickly flew towards the source of the sound.

A figure darted out from behind a tree and ran quickly toward the edge of the woods, but was soon intercepted by Boss Zhou. "Who are you? What are you doing?" Boss Zhou did not recognize Yang Dui.

Yang asked in a low voice, "Mr. Zhou? Excuse me... which direction is the outhouse?"

Shen Wan's voice rang out in the woods just in time: "He's from Lonely Cloud Fortress... I know him... We can't let him go!"

...Boss Zhou carefully removed the traces on the ground and examined Yang Dui's body, confirming that no clues had been left behind. "Miss Shen... I'll send someone to take you back to Fallen Leaf Manor immediately... Take care of the matter I asked you to handle..."

The carriage rumbled away...

"And then... Miss Ye came back." Shen Wan finished speaking in a low voice, and smiled sadly. "I have told you all my crimes. You can do whatever you want with me."

Ye Xiao glanced at Luo Qingcheng; his face was extremely pale, perhaps due to recent blood loss. "Qingcheng," she said, her eyes questioning him.

Luo Qingcheng slowly raised his head and looked at Shen Wan: "Xiao Wan... I've also noticed the changes in you... It started at Langjing Manor. Can I ask why?"

Shen Wan's eyes dimmed: "...Because at Langjing Manor, I met a man, namely Boss Zhou. At the time, he called himself Mr. Hua. He said some things to me, and I believed him."

"Mr. Hua! Mr. Zhou is the same Mr. Hua from the secret! What did he say to you?"

"He said that my father died from the Netherworld Heart-Shattering Palm, a skill that only Brother Luo can currently use... He said that my father obtained something very important to Brother Luo, and Brother Luo demanded it back from him. My father, fearing that this item would spread throughout the martial arts world and cause chaos, refused to give it to him. As a result, Brother Luo killed my father in a fit of anger..."

"You actually believe this nonsense?" Ye Xiao asked with disdain.

Shen Wan shook her head painfully: "I didn't believe it at first... but I knew that Brother Luo knew the Eighteen Forms of the Netherworld, and I also heard that the Eighteen Forms of the Netherworld hadn't appeared in the martial arts world for a long time. I overheard my father saying this, and I also knew that Brother Luo had been looking for something, and he even asked me about it. So, after comparing the two, I... believed it..."

Ye Xiao suddenly realized: "That's it... This must have happened after Qingcheng saved Shan'er. That time, Qingcheng made a move, and the Martial Alliance recognized the Eighteen Forms of the Netherworld. That's why they came up with this plan to frame someone and sow discord. Unexpectedly, you actually believed it by accident and did so many things for your enemy. Sure enough, Mr. Hua has a close relationship with the Martial Alliance! Was he also in the Martial Alliance at that time?"

Ye Xiao's disappointment

Ye Xiao felt a pang of sadness. She hadn't expected that even after things had come to this, he would still protect her. Did being beautiful mean that anything she did could be forgiven?

"Second brother, what she did was mainly aimed at you... Can you really forgive her? Why?" He was unwilling, truly unwilling... How could he be so weak and submissive?

Luo Qingcheng lowered his head: "Xiao Wan... is Uncle Shen's daughter. Uncle Shen died because of me, so I hope you will let her go."

"Just because of that?" Ye Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

Luo Qingcheng looked somewhat embarrassed: "There's another reason... I can't tell you yet..."

He couldn't tell her... A sudden chill ran through Ye Xiao's heart. Was the reason he couldn't bear to part with her? Because he loved her, he could forgive all her mistakes?

She shook her head sadly: "No... I can't forgive him. Brother Yang died for me. If I can't give him an explanation, how can I face returning to Lonely Cloud Fortress in this life?"

Luo Qingcheng quietly raised his head: "Yang Dui was killed by Boss Zhou. I promise you, I will definitely avenge you."

Hearing him plead for Shen Wan repeatedly, Ye Xiao felt her heart sink. She shook her head, forcing herself to be rational, and said, "Miss Shen is also half responsible for Brother Yang's death. Well, since it's half, let's leave the choice to Heaven. Let fate decide whether she deserves to die."

Luo Qingcheng's eyes darkened: "What's the choice?"

Ye Xiao took out a porcelain jar, opened the lid, and a dark brown beetle crawled out. Shen Wan trembled slightly and shrank back behind Luo Qingcheng in fear.

"I've set up a trap, mimicking how Miss Shen killed Wan San last time. This jar hanging on the tree contains a potion that attracts poisonous insects. There are two ropes below; if you pull one, the potion will pour onto you, and beetles will fly over and poison you. Miss Shen, you can choose either rope to pull; whether you live or die depends on your luck. Qingcheng, if you feel sorry for her, you can die in her place. I'll grant your wish."

Shen Wan stared in terror at the beetles crawling haphazardly on the ground, hesitating for a long time, not daring to move an inch. Luo Qingcheng sighed softly, stepped forward first, and casually tore off a rope. With a scream from Shen Wan, something icy cold poured down from above, chilling him to the bone. At the same time, a foul stench spread, causing all three present to cough violently.

Ye Xiao seemed particularly sensitive to the smell, coughing so hard her eyes were filled with tears. After a while, she picked up the beetle from the ground, and Shen Wan exclaimed again, "Be careful... this insect is poisonous!"

Ye Xiao gently touched the beetle in her hand, a desolate smile on her face. "No... I killed that poisonous insect long ago. Why would I keep it to wreak havoc? This is just another beetle of a similar color. Although it looks a bit ugly, it's harmless. The liquid I put in that jar was just from a stink bomb; it just smells bad, not poisonous. Luo Qingcheng, so you're just a vulgar person who values women over friends. You even deprived me of the chance to ruin her reputation. Brother Yang has wasted his time as a friend. I feel sorry for him." With a gentle flick of her wrist, she released the small insect and turned away sadly.

Shen Wan looked at the distraught and foul-smelling Luo Qingcheng with shame, and stammered, "Brother Luo... I'm so sorry. I never expected you to risk your life for me. I'm so... incredibly foolish."

Luo Qingcheng said coldly, "It has nothing to do with you. I just don't believe Xiaoxiao would kill me. Xiaowan, there's something that's yours, isn't there?"

Shen Wan stared at the small porcelain bottle in Luo Qingcheng's hand, slightly taken aback, her face suddenly turning pale: "Yes..."

"Isn't this also a poisonous liquid that, while not actually poisonous, can still kill? The one you left in Xiaoxiao's room the night Wan San died?"

Shen Wan lowered her head and remained silent.

"Actually, that night, you planned to spill the medicine on Xiaoxiao's bed, get it on her body, and kill her at the same time, killing two birds with one stone?"

Shen Wan's face turned even paler: "Yes... I received a secret order to kill Miss Ye as well. I went to her room, but I ran into you... I didn't have time."

Luo Qingcheng's face darkened as he waved his hand, turning the porcelain bottle in his hand into powder. Recalling the poisonous insect he had twice brushed away, he couldn't believe he had almost lost Xiaoxiao forever… Suddenly, he felt an intense loathing for Shen Wan, yet he still spoke gently to her: "Xiaowan, do you know why I'm speaking up for you? Putting aside personal grudges, I see a reflection of myself in you… You indiscriminately killed innocents to avenge your father. And I… will also indiscriminately kill innocents to avenge my father. Moreover, you did it while bewitched, while I will do it while fully conscious… So, I feel sorry for you… But I can't tell Xiaoxiao any of this. I'm afraid she'll despise me and think I'm a murderous demon…"

He suddenly turned around and strode out: "Xiao Wan, I will send someone to take you back to your hometown in Suzhou... From now on, you must never set foot in this bloody world again. Uncle Shen died because of me, and I will avenge him for you. I will send someone to inform you when the time comes..."

Ye Xiao stared blankly at the emerald-green pool in front of her, her heart filled with despair. She was utterly disappointed in Luo Qingcheng, yet she still felt a pang of heartache.

"Miss Ye." Someone called her from behind; it was Feng Sihai's usual arrogant voice.

Ye Xiao had no liking for him, so she just responded and didn't turn around.

Feng Sihai continued arrogantly, "I can see that Miss Ye is deeply in love with my young master. Although you are not as beautiful as the moon and flowers, the strength of Lone Cloud Fortress is exceptionally strong. If Lone Cloud Fortress can stand together with Fallen Leaf Manor and form an alliance, I can put in a good word for you with the young master and get him to marry you... I think you are intelligent and sensible, and you must understand the implications of this..."

Ye Xiao knew Feng Sihai was telling the truth, but it hurt her deeply. Compared to Shen Wan and Yuan Peixin, she wasn't as beautiful, but she was still very proud. She felt her pride had been utterly shattered. She truly loved Luo Qingcheng; she had originally planned to give up all her pride for him, to love him selflessly and without regard for the future, to fulfill all his wishes and ambitions.

But today, she suddenly saw her own heart clearly. It wasn't as noble as she had imagined; she still hoped her efforts would be reciprocated. Feng Sihai's words of unwavering devotion suddenly became a cruel irony, piercing her heart with a sharp, agonizing pain. All along, it turned out that only she had been indulging in wishful thinking.

In that instant, she made a decision. She turned around and said, "Feng Tianwang... you've misunderstood. I am the future lord of Guyun Fortress, possessing half the wealth of the fortress. There are countless men who want to marry me, so there's no need for me to be devoted to anyone. If it weren't for our brotherhood, I wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess with him... Now I've thought it through... I'm not getting any younger, and it's time for me to go back and find someone to marry."

"..." Watching Ye Xiao's resolute departure, Feng Sihai was extremely surprised. That day, Luo Qingcheng was injured, and he clearly saw Ye Xiao's heartbroken and distraught expression. From her expression, he was almost certain of the deep feelings she had for Luo Qingcheng. As someone who had been through similar experiences, as an elder, he hoped Luo Qingcheng could find someone who loved her as deeply as Ye Xiao, which was why he had humbled himself to help her. How could this be...?

Just as he was racking his brains trying to figure it out, he heard a long sigh. He looked up alertly and saw Luo Qingcheng's lonely figure standing out so incongruously amidst the lush flowers in the courtyard...

"Cheng'er...did you hear that? Hmm, Cheng'er, a real man shouldn't be troubled by love..." He asked nervously, knowing how much Ye Xiao meant to Luo Qingcheng and hoping he wouldn't be discouraged by it.

"Grandpa Feng." Luo Qingcheng bravely shook his head, trying to shake off all his troubles and heartache. "I have no right to talk about feelings. All I want now is to avenge my father's blood feud as soon as possible."

Feng Sihai was surprised again. He patted Luo Qingcheng on the shoulder with some emotion and nodded approvingly.

"It hurts...it hurts..." Xiao Xun clutched his stomach and rolled around on the bed.

Mo Yinxue was terrified and hugged him, tears streaming down her face. "What's wrong? You idiot, what happened? Did you eat something unclean?"

Xiao Xun looked up in anguish: "I've suffered from a strange illness since I was a child. Luckily, my mother found some folk remedies for me... I bought some medicine earlier to treat this illness... Where did that medicine go?"