Shi Mansi couldn't help but reach out and shake her hard, trying to wake her from her self-pity: "Enough! You need to wake up. You can never protect everyone around you! But this isn't your fault, and it's not your responsibility, do you understand?"
A solemn smile slowly appeared on Yin Wuxiao's face: "I understand. You are right, I will leave obediently."
"Chief, I learned from Baili Qingyi's men that the 'Traceless' headquarters is located at the foot of this cliff." The one respectfully clasping his hands was Fang Hongjing, a veteran of the Qiao Clan and the head of the Mingjing Hall.
Mu Li, who had occupied the identity of his twin brother for six years, had a cold and stern expression, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"Tell the brothers to prepare for the attack."
“But…” Fang Hongjing looked troubled. “The terrain here is treacherous, and we can’t know what’s going on down the cliff. If we attack rashly, wouldn’t we be sending our brothers to their deaths in vain? It would be better to wait until Bailifu and the other gangs arrive before making any plans.”
Mu Li sneered, his face already showing anger: "What kind of talk is this? Does the wife of the leader of my Qiao Gang have to rely on Baili Qingyi to save her?"
"This..." Fang Hongjing was stumped by him and dared not mention the alliance with the others again. He had no choice but to compromise: "How about I send a few brothers with excellent lightness skills down to scout out the terrain first, and then let the brothers attack together?" A master like the gang leader was naturally confident that he could come and go safely, but most of the Qiao Gang members had to use ropes to go up and down. If "Wuhen" had buried traps at the bottom of the cliff, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"It's too late." Mu Li impatiently flicked his sleeve. "Stop talking. Take a few brothers and set up positions on the cliff. Immediately order the other brothers to launch a full-scale attack. You must rescue the gang leader's wife."
“…Yes.” Fang Hongjing inwardly groaned.
"Wait a minute." Mu Li called out to him, adding, "Remember, saving lives is the top priority, no matter the cost."
Fang Hongjing felt a sudden chill in his heart.
At all costs, that is, at the cost of the lives of the hundreds of Qiao Gang members present.
Sitting before the mirror once more, examining her bright red wedding dress, Yin Wuxiao felt a pang of sorrow. She spread out a square red veil with both hands and draped it over her head.
"Congratulations to Miss Yin." A voice with a half-smile came from the doorway, where Yuwen Cuiyu leaned gracefully against the door.
Yin Wuxiao flicked his wrist, and the red veil fluttered to the ground. Shi Mansi behind him hurriedly bent down to pick it up, but she was too slow and realized that the red veil had already landed in a delicate, white hand.
"Oh dear, the red veil falling to the ground before the wedding is not a good omen." Yuwen Cuiyu looked at the snow-white bride's face in the mirror and smiled.
Shi Mansi yanked the red veil back and glared at her fiercely.
Yuwen Cuiyu's tone suddenly turned icy: "If you're ready, hurry up and get down to business. People outside are getting impatient."
Yin Wuxiao covered his face with a red veil and suddenly said, "Miss Yuwen, you are actually a pitiful person."
Yuwen Cuiyu was taken aback: "I killed so many people in your family, don't you hate me?"
Yin Wuxiao's expression was obscured by the red veil, but her voice grew increasingly cold and aloof.
“I used to hate, but now I don’t hate anymore.”
"Why?"
A soft laugh came from under the red veil: "I ask you, do you fall in love with the Feng Lang who personally fed you medicine and healed your wounds, or with the Feng Lang who is now the leader of the Qiao Gang?"
"What's the difference?" Yuwen Cuiyu sneered.
There was a moment of tranquility.
Yin Wuxiao slowly stood up.
"You are really pathetic."
Bright red "double happiness" characters, bright red wedding hall, bright red brocade, bright red floral balls.
Qiao Fenglang grasped Yin Wuxiao's hand.
"Don't you think this is ridiculous?" he whispered in her ear, his intimate tone lingering in his warm breath, yet sending a chill down her spine.
Yin Wuxiao looked up, and through the red veil, she could vaguely see that the hall was surrounded by jagged rocks on three sides, and the originally festive red color was flashing with an eerie light.
As if he knew her thoughts perfectly, Qiao Fenglang smiled slightly: "You don't need to worry. He will break in in less than fifteen minutes, and once he's in, he won't be able to get out."
“You…” Yin Wuxiao’s voice was hoarse and strained, “Even if you wipe out the Qiao Gang’s vanguard, how will the other gangs’ armies defend against you?”
Qiao Fenglang chuckled softly, confident: "I have my own way, you don't need to worry." He lifted Yin Wuxiao's chin through the red veil: "What? At this moment, you're not worried about your two brothers, but instead you're still thinking about that Baili Qingyi? Don't worry, he'll also receive a share of the gifts I've prepared."
Yin Wuxiao's heart skipped a beat: "You're going to deal with him too? Why?"
As if he had finally found her weakness, Qiao Feng laughed loudly. He suddenly wrapped his arm tightly around Yin Wuxiao, forcing their bodies to press together, their eyes meeting, and a wicked and unrestrained smile spread across his face: "You'd better take care of yourself first!"
Yin Wuxiao was stunned. Before he could react, his body was forcibly pressed to the ground, and his knees immediately felt like they were about to break.
"Bowing to Heaven and Earth!" The Master of Ceremonies' voice sounded so familiar. Upon closer listening, it turned out to be the Smiling Buddha, one of the Five Evil Stars from the Dragon Inn that day.
Qiao Fenglang's large, iron-like hand gripped the back of her head tightly. Regardless of her resistance, he ruthlessly pressed her head down until it slammed heavily to the ground.
"Ugh!" Yin Wuxiao groaned suddenly, a piercing pain seeping into his forehead, a burning sensation winding down his temple.
In that instant, amidst the excruciating pain, Yin Wuxiao understood that Qiao Fenglang didn't care who she sided with, who she loved, or their engagement. Hatred had completely consumed his humanity; now, his heart was filled with torment—torment for Mu Li, whom he hated to the core, and even for everyone he could see.
She instinctively bit her lip, trying to suppress a cry of pain, but her body seemed to be out of her control. She was like a lifeless puppet, completely at Qiao Fenglang's mercy.
"Bowing to our parents for the second time!" The shout was cheerful, yet ironically laughable.
With a loud thud, Yin Wuxiao's forehead was slammed to the ground again. This time, blood gushed out, dripping into her eyes. She struggled to open her eyes, feeling the red veil soaked in her blood clinging to her face, making her look utterly wretched, while blood trickled from the corners of her mouth, which she was trying to keep from the pain.
How ridiculous, how ridiculous, that Yin Wuxiao died at her own wedding.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Overlapping Joy Turns into Sorrow (Part One)
"Husband and wife bowing to each other!"
It seemed as if one could hear Shi Mansi's uncontrollable scream from the crowd, but at the same time, scattered cheers also rang out.
The grip on the back of her head tightened again. Yin Wuxiao squinted, and, taking advantage of the veil covering her face, she even managed a slight smile. Let her die then; after all, she's all alone in this world.
Mansi has Cen Lu, so it doesn't matter if she's not there.
She meant nothing to Qiao Fenglang and Mu Li.
It's Baili Qingyi... Ha, that lofty figure who took the world of martial arts as his responsibility. Without her, it's just that we've lost someone to demonstrate our chivalrous spirit. So what if there was a fleeting moment of tenderness?
"Xiao'er!" came Mu Li's terrified cry.
Qiao Fenglang glanced coldly at Mu Li, who rushed into the hall, then suddenly smiled sinisterly and used one hand to force Yin Wuxiao to bow down with him.
The hall fell silent, with only the lingering sound of heavy bodies striking the stone slabs.
The "Traceless" experts surrounded the small group of Qiao's gang members who had braved countless dangers to enter the hall, and everything was under Qiao Fenglang's control.
Qiao Fenglang suddenly seemed like a different person. He gently helped Yin Wuxiao up and let her lean against him. Under the red veil, it was impossible to tell whether Yin Wuxiao, whose face was covered in blood, was alive or dead, or whether she was conscious or unconscious.
"The ceremony is complete." He uttered casually, staring defiantly at Mu Li. "She is my wife now."
"Qin Qiyun?" Mu Li was shocked to finally see the other person's face. "You are the master of 'Wuhen'? Why did you do this?"
"Why would I do this?" As if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, Qiao Fenglang laughed loudly: "What, you don't even recognize the scars you left yourself? 'Qiao' Gang Leader?" He touched his battered cheek suggestively.
"You!" Mu Li gasped, the sudden realization shattering his long-established composure. He took two steps back, his index finger trembling as he pointed at Qiao Fenglang: "You are...it's you?"
Qiao Fenglang frowned. "I thought you should have guessed it sooner." He glanced at the crowd. "Who is it? What, are you afraid to reveal who I am?" He raised an eyebrow coldly. "Guess how many of these people behind you will remain loyal to you after you reveal my identity?"
"You!" Mu Li rushed forward, gripping the hilt of his sword to suppress the shock in his heart. "If you hate me, fine, but why drag Xiao'er into this?" His gaze was fixed on Yin Wuxiao in Qiao Fenglang's arms, his heart aching inexplicably.
"I'm dragging her into this?" Qiao Fenglang smiled. "Why do you say that? Xiao'er is clearly my fiancée, with whom I've been engaged since childhood. Although we've never officially announced it, both families know the truth..."
"Shut up!" As if some unbearable memory surged into his mind, Mu Li shouted uncontrollably, "It was clearly me who married Xiao'er! If it weren't for your interference, Xiao'er would be my wife now!"
Qiao Fenglang sneered: "She has already performed the grand ceremony with me."
"Shut up!" Mu Li had lost all reason after being provoked by Qiao Fenglang's words. He couldn't help but draw his sword and charge forward, aiming straight for Qiao Fenglang.
"Chief!" A lithe figure leaped from the crowd, blocking the enraged Mu Li just in time. "Chief, don't let him provoke you, or you'll suffer a great loss!"
It turned out to be Fang Hongjing, who was supposed to stay on the cliff.
"What are you doing here?" Upon seeing him, Mu Li's anger intensified.
"I was worried about the leader, so I ordered the deputy leader to cover the rear. I will stay close behind the leader to protect him," Fang Hongjing replied, bowing.
Mu Li snorted, calming down considerably, and waved his hand, ordering him to step back.
Yin Wuxiao, who was slumped in Qiao Fenglang's arms, suddenly trembled and opened her watery eyes.
Qiao Fenglang looked down in surprise: "So you're still awake." A smile flashed in his eyes.
Yin Wuxiao did not react, but his eyes gradually focused on the Qiao Gang members in the arena, his expression complicated, as if he was searching for something.
"Xiao'er?" Mu Li called her softly with a pained expression, as if raising her voice would shatter her. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here right away."
Yin Wuxiao's long eyelashes fluttered, and his wandering gaze settled on a single point.
"You want to save her?" Qiao Fenglang repeated Mu Li's words with amusement. "I'd like to see how you plan to save her."
Mu Li gritted his teeth, "If you hate me, then come at me. What kind of hero makes things difficult for a woman? Besides, she is yours too..." He suddenly stopped talking.
"My what? My what?" Qiao Fenglang's eyes lit up.
"What...what will it take for you to let her go?" Mu Li turned his head away fiercely, his heart bleeding. Under normal circumstances, he would never utter a word of weakness.
"If you want me to let her go, that's simple." Qiao Fenglang chuckled, just waiting for him to say those words.
"I'm just afraid you can't do it."
"What do you want?" Mu Li glared at him.
"I want...everything of yours." He smiled faintly, "Your status, your identity, and your life."
Yin Wuxiao opened her lips with difficulty, but was unable to speak further. Did Qiao Fenglang really intend to make an exchange with Mu Li? She understood; he merely wanted to see Mu Li struggle with her choice and witness her own disappointment. Today, Qiao Fenglang, consumed by hatred, would not let either her or Mu Li go.
She knew she shouldn't wait for Mu Li to make a decision, because she didn't care about his answer, and she couldn't allow herself to become a bargaining chip in their conflict. But she held her breath, a faint expectation stirring within her. She wasn't waiting for Mu Li's answer, but for someone else's.
Mu Li fell silent.
"You can't bear to part with it?" Qiao Fenglang chuckled, unsurprised.
"It's not that I'm reluctant to give her up, it's that I'm useless. If I really put my life in your hands, you'd be even less likely to let her go."
"..." Qiao Fenglang laughed loudly, "You know me very well, brother."
This title shocked everyone present.
Qiao Fenglang, however, leaned close to Yin Wuxiao's ear and said with a smile, "Look, this is your Fenglang brother."
Shi Mansi, who was hiding in the crowd behind, was secretly anxious. This stubborn woman, why is she pretending to be tough? If she doesn't play dead now, when will she?
Qiao Fenglang took Yin Wuxiao's delicate hand, which was hidden in her wedding dress, and looked at Mu Li with a smile: "Since you can't bear to part with her, you must bear the consequences of that."
With a "crack," accompanied by Yin Wuxiao's unbearable scream, her wrist bone was snapped in full view of everyone.