Zhuang Su felt a chill run down her spine even from the mere brush of this person's gaze. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she had a strange feeling that this person hated her to the core. No… perhaps this person hated her father, Shao Yu. Zhuang Su felt a slight headache coming on. She vaguely understood that these people weren't after her past relationship, which violated the code of honor between the underworld and the legitimate world. They were simply looking for a way to eliminate them, since they were both thorns in the side of so many people. However, their desire to kill her now was merely out of fear that she, this "future threat," would one day seek revenge.
The chatter below had already spread far and wide, and amidst the noise, Zhuang Su, being far away, couldn't make out what the people were saying. She closed her eyes drowsily, knowing that these were the people who held the power of life and death over her, yet she truly felt no interest whatsoever. It was as if these people were discussing the most ordinary topics, that this was just a teahouse, and that she was merely an ordinary passerby.
"Since that's the case, then let's execute her publicly." Huang Tian's voice rose slightly, sounding quite abrupt in the crowd.
Zhuang Su's eyelashes trembled slightly, and every word reached her ears. Looking up, she saw Huang Tian walk up to her, coldly glancing at her, and saying, "Do you have anything else to say?"
Zhuang Su saw indifference in his eyes and shook her head, saying, "No." Huang Tian's question was merely a formality; Zhuang Su didn't believe her "suggestion" would actually be accepted, and naturally didn't want to waste any more words. Just as she finished speaking, she heard a few hearty laughs. The laughter sounded strangely familiar, and when she hurriedly looked up, she couldn't help but gasp, "Master?"
Among the few people who had taken their seats, the one holding the wine jug and drinking was none other than her master, who had been missing for many months.
Sai Huatuo seemed quite pleased with Zhuang Su's surprised expression, and said with a leisurely smile, "What's wrong, girl? Aren't you happy to see your master?"
Zhuang Su had never expected that Sai Huatuo was also a member of the underworld, let alone seeing him again in his current situation. Hearing this, he was speechless for a moment. After calming down, he said, "Old man, I'm about to die. Can you grant me one last request?"
When Sai Huatuo heard her say the word "death," he subconsciously frowned and asked, "What is it?"
"Help me... heal someone." Zhuang Su thought of Shen Jian. She never imagined that the person she had been searching for so long would appear before her as she lay dying. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
"I won't help." Hua Tuo's answer was unexpectedly decisive. Seeing Zhuang Su's somber expression, he glanced at her sideways and sneered, "Who said you're going to die?"
Zhuang Su was taken aback upon hearing this.
"Sai Huatuo, do you intend to protect her? Is Xueyi Manor preparing to rebel against the entire underworld?" A cold, lifeless voice suddenly rang out. The voice came from among the gang members, and upon hearing it, they were startled and hurriedly made way for him.
The speaker was dressed entirely in black, his hair tied back in black as well. He had a hooked nose, sword-like eyebrows, and a pair of gloomy eyes that revealed a hint of sinister malice. His voice was so low that he seemed devoid of any living presence. He was clearly a man of status, and as soon as the people around him noticed his appearance, they hurriedly took a few steps back and respectfully bowed.
The man stared coldly at Sai Huatuo, but Sai Huatuo's smile remained unchanged: "Rakshasa, how come after more than ten years, you still look the same?"
Rakshasa looked up at Zhuang Su with a gloomy expression, his face expressionless: "This person must die."
Zhuang Su felt as if the man's gaze had pierced her heart like a sharp blade, making her feel inexplicably suffocated. When she came to her senses, she realized that her whole body was trembling slightly, like prey being targeted by a hunter, with no way to escape.
It evoked a sense of deep-seated hatred. Zhuang Su noticed Rakshasa's right sleeve; beneath the wide, dark shadow, it appeared empty and hollow. This person had no right hand.
Rakshasa's words immediately brought the atmosphere in the room to a standstill.
Huang Tian's face was also slightly pale. She looked at Sai Huatuo reproachfully and said, "Rakshasa, we will definitely handle this matter."
"Oh?" Rakshasa sneered. "It had better be that way, otherwise I'll make sure your Soul Feather Sect is slaughtered again." His words reminded everyone of the tragedy that happened more than ten years ago, and the expressions of the people around him immediately turned ugly. Rakshasa walked up to the high platform with a sneer and sat down arrogantly in the high chair that had been empty in the center.
With a flick of his sleeve, as he sat down, a somewhat oppressive atmosphere seemed to instantly descend upon the surroundings.
Zhuang Su felt suffocated, only then realizing that this person was actually the man who held the top position in the underworld. The current number one assassin in the underworld. So this man's name was Rakshasa. Zhuang Su suddenly remembered something, and her expression immediately turned grim. If Rakshasa was indeed who he was, she vaguely remembered hearing someone say that Shao Yu, with his extremely high reputation, was the undisputed candidate for leader of the alliance. However, after his affair with Qing Yuan, he was immediately attacked by the entire underworld, and Rakshasa was the one leading those people at that time. However, Rakshasa's hand seemed to have been destroyed by Qing Chen during the decisive battle between the underworld and the legitimate world at the summit of Luoshan.
This person not only hates Shao Yu, but also Qing Chen...
Zhuang Su clenched her lips tightly, her hand gripping the medicine pouch hidden in her sleeve even tighter. Whether she would be executed today or not, whether or not someone would actually save her, she—had to die here.
She didn't want Qingchen to actually come, and he couldn't come either!
In that moment of distraction, Zhuang Su seemed to see Rakshasa glance at her from afar, and in that glance, she saw a calculating indifference. Her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and suddenly she heard the sounds of clashing weapons emanating from all around outside. Her heart sank.
Rakshasa's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "It seems he has arrived."
His words were spoken so calmly, yet Zhuang Su heard every single one clearly. She hurriedly looked towards the doorway, but there was no one there yet. She could only vaguely hear the sounds of fighting outside. She stared intently, feeling the sounds of battle growing closer and clearer…
A figure flew across the doorway, landing on the ground with a long, deep knife embedded in its chest, blood gushing out. The figure's head lolled to the side, lifeless. Zhuang Su had no time to look further; her eyes were fixed on a figure in white. Her heart felt like a stone falling into a bottomless abyss, endlessly sinking, yet simultaneously she felt a faint chill, and a ripple of something else spread through it…
The large, dark mass of people inside immediately drew their weapons. Qingchen, backed by a group of One Leaf Alliance members, merely smiled at the sight of the commotion, his tone seemingly mocking as he looked at Luocha: "Oh, isn't this Luocha? Long time no see. I was wondering why the underworld was chasing you so relentlessly; it turns out it's you..."
Qingchen spoke as if they were old acquaintances, and Luosha smiled enigmatically: "It has indeed been a long time, but I never expected that you would come here to die."
Qingchen raised an eyebrow: "That's not right. I'm here to save people, not to die."
"Do you think I didn't know you were coming today?" Rakshasa sneered. "Now that you're here, don't think you can leave easily."
"Oh, it's just Liu Rushu, isn't it?" Qingchen casually lifted the last layer of paper, her lowered eyelashes concealing a deep expression. "You should know better than I do that Qingyuan still has a daughter living in the world."
Luocha gave him a deep look, and finally raised the corner of her lips: "That's right. I was the one who arranged for Liu Rushu in the first place, so what? You still ended up in my hands."
Qingchen didn't answer, but simply looked up. Zhuang Su happened to be looking over as well, and their eyes met. They remained silent, neither uttering a word. Qingchen felt a pang of helplessness. Even knowing that person was merely a pawn used against him, he was already powerless to escape this game…
He would protect her. At any cost.
A breathtakingly beautiful smile suddenly appeared on Qingchen's lips, so beautiful it was almost mesmerizing, causing many who glanced at him to momentarily lose their senses. However, with a slight movement of his feet, several long strands of silk suddenly shot out from his hand, weaving a net in the air and eerily raising a sky full of crimson.
Rakshasa's face darkened further. He remembered these Heavenly Silkworm Snow Silks; this man had used them to sever his right hand. With a deep, pensive look, he slammed his hand on the table and leaped into the air.
"Clang—" The sharp sword made a piercing sound when it touched the silk thread.
Zhuang Su watched the dramatic turn of events from afar. The scene was a chaotic mess of people, and she could only vaguely make out a figure in white moving through the blood rain. The sight filled her with dread and unease.
"Miss Susu, I will untie you right away."
Zhuang Su suddenly heard a voice beside her. Turning around, she saw Na Yan, who had appeared there at some point. She was taken aback, realizing that Shen Jian was worried about her and had sent Na Yan to make the trip. However, she had no time to think about it anymore and hurriedly said, "How could you come here? Have you all gone mad? Take Qing Chen away! There are so many people in the underworld, do you want to die here?"
Na Yan paused in his unlocking motion upon hearing this, looked up at Zhuang Su, and said with a hint of helplessness in his voice, "Miss Su Su, do you think I would still be here if I could persuade them not to act recklessly? Now, unless you come back with us safely, none of them will let this go."
After Nayan finished speaking, he said nothing more, leaving Zhuang Su feeling a strange sensation throughout her body. She felt somewhat tired and sad.
Will neither of them let this go? One wants a complete falling out between the legitimate and criminal worlds, while the other wants to use the imperial court to oppose the underworld and cause chaos throughout the land? Perhaps she is just overestimating herself, but even the slightest possibility is unacceptable.
Zhuang Su knew she wasn't beautiful, and that she wasn't qualified or allowed herself to be that femme fatale.
When his hands and feet were released, it was as if all his constraints were suddenly lifted. Zhuang Su felt a sudden lightness in his body, and the wind seemed a little cool.
"Miss Susu, come with me quickly." Nayan hurriedly urged after untying Zhuang Susu, but seeing her standing there not understanding, he became anxious, "Hurry up, or it will be too late."
"Nayan, do you really think you can get me out of here safely..." Zhuang Su's voice was somewhat ethereal, her gaze fixed on the blood-stained sky outside the courtyard. Outside were enemies whose numbers were impossible to guess. She didn't understand why these people were so foolish, knowing it was likely a dead end, yet still choosing to come. She saw Nayan fall silent in response to her question, and a slightly bitter smile suddenly appeared on her lips.
“Nayan, go back and tell Shen Jian that if he wants to treat his leg injury, he can go to Xueyi Manor and have the legendary physician Hua Tuo come. Just say it was my ‘last wish’… Also, don’t worry, Qingchen won’t start killing again. Just remember to make sure you get out of there unharmed, and then go back and have Shen Jian come to save him. Whether or not he can escape… the underworld won’t kill him so easily…”
Nayan, hearing her rambling words, felt a strange sense of foreboding and looked at Zhuang Su in surprise. She saw an unusual flush on the corner of Zhuang Su's lips, her face pale, and her voice, growing weaker, held a hint of relief in it: "Nayan, actually... taking me away isn't the only way... there's another way... and that is—my death... Nayan, promise me, you'll be alright..."
Yes, she died. With her dead, they could leave without any burdens, without having to take any more risks, without having to defy the world.
As her strength gradually drained away, she tilted her head back slightly, feeling the poison dissipate from her body. Losing consciousness, she collapsed heavily to the ground.
"Miss Susu!" Nayan's cry echoed across the sky. In the distance, the white-clad figure abruptly stopped at the sound of the cry. At that moment, the sword behind him pierced straight through his chest, yet he seemed oblivious. In that instant, he felt no pain; he only saw the figure lying on the ground in the distance, so far away, tearing at his very soul...
But he felt numb. He didn't even have the strength to shout.
A pool of blood gushed from his chest, so much of it, yet pale. Beside him, a chilling laugh seemed to rise from the demonic realm, so cold it made his heart seem to stop beating.
Was she dead? He didn't believe it!
A sword was held to his neck, and Rakshasa's cold voice rang in his ears: "One Leaf Alliance, why don't you surrender immediately!"
A silence fell over the surroundings, followed by the sound of weapons hitting the ground. However, Qingchen seemed to hear and see nothing. His gaze was fixed on the slender woman on the platform, and he could see from afar that Nayan seemed to be casting a sorrowful look at him, but he refused to believe it.
"Ye Chen, you really... were still ruined by this woman—" Rakshasa's voice rang out softly beside him, utterly cruel.
Qingchen closed her eyes tightly. Blood continued to flow from her chest. Did it hurt? Perhaps not… Would she die? It didn't matter anymore…
They were gradually forced to leave, leaving only a pile of broken corpses in the venue.
In the dead silence, a pair of feet slowly stepped in, gradually approaching the woman in white. They shook their heads deeply. A sigh escaped her lips, and when the wind blew again, all was silent once more.
The next day, among those who came to collect the bodies, some were surprised that the woman who died on the stage had disappeared, but no one was willing to investigate further. It seemed that everything gradually calmed down, leaving the world with only one astonishing piece of news—Ye Chen, the leader of the One Leaf Alliance, had now fallen into the hands of the underworld.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Ashes of the Past (Part 1)
As dusk fell over the Chu Palace in Luoyang, a few days earlier, several people on horseback had hurriedly entered, only to fall silent once more.
In the winding corridors of the palace, a man dressed in prime minister's robes gently knocked on the door. "Knock, knock." Several deep knocks, but no response from inside. Seeing this, the Grand Secretary beside him said with a hint of helplessness, "Prime Minister, it's no use. His Majesty... he's been like this for days. You haven't eaten for days either, shouldn't you go back and rest?"
Liu Su's face was slightly pale, and there was little color in the corners of her lips. Upon hearing this, she smiled somewhat palely and said, "No matter what, we still have to try to persuade her."
Nayan looked at him with some worry: "Prime Minister, you should also put your mind at ease. Miss Susu, she..."
"Susu will be alright." Liusu left those words, turned and left without looking back. His back looked somewhat sparse and desolate in Nayan's eyes. Nayan's hands clenched slightly. He looked back at the closed door behind him, a hint of resentment in his eyes.
If he had discovered it sooner, Miss Susu wouldn't have been in trouble… Nayan felt a pang of regret, yet a glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes. He had actually returned afterward, but hadn't found Susu's body. However, he didn't tell anyone, keeping that last sliver of hope in his heart. If Susu was unharmed, that would be best, but if that illusion proved false, there was no need to disappoint them again. After all, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment…
Liu Su didn't turn around, his steps slightly unsteady as he walked. Suddenly, he stumbled and barely managed to steady himself by grabbing a nearby pillar. The surrounding guards were about to help him up, but Liu Su gently waved them off. He rubbed his temples lightly, suppressing the faint dizziness that was rising within him.
Liu Su's face was slightly pale, partly because he had been reviewing memorials from various places day and night, and partly because he deliberately didn't allow himself much free time.
Susu didn't die, right...?
Liu Su was somewhat dazed. Several years ago, someone had told him of this person's death, but he didn't believe it, and in the end, he did live to see it. So... what about now? He didn't want to believe that Zhuang Su was dead, and naturally—he wouldn't believe it.
Behind him, a slight breeze stirred, ruffling his clothes.
Liu Su recalled the last words that Zhuang Su had asked Na Yan to bring back, and his brow furrowed slightly. He still felt a deep sense of exhaustion, but he turned and hurried back to the Prime Minister's residence. For the past few days, Shen Jian had remained secluded at home, and no one knew what was happening in his room. Given his indifference to court affairs, he naturally wouldn't have the mind to concern himself with matters of the underworld or the legitimate world.
However, it was Su Su's request, and he had no choice but to comply. Liu Su closed his eyes, suppressing his exhaustion. At that moment, several palace maids approached. When they bowed to him, he returned a humble smile, remaining as gentle and refined as ever.
The palace maids blushed instantly at his smile, grabbed their things, and hurried away with their heads down. They didn't notice how thin he was; they only felt that the prime minister always had such a handsome face, one that one could never tire of looking at.
The tassel's silhouette finally landed by the door, where it was subtly separated by the archway.
That night, several figures quietly emerged from the Prime Minister's residence, each carrying a military tally, and headed straight for their respective military camps. A shocking upheaval was brewing silently in the shadows, while at this time, Snow Doctor Manor fell into an eerie silence.
Few people saw the woman that Sai Huatuo inexplicably brought back that day. But the few witnesses who did see her said she seemed to be on the verge of death, and the news spread like wildfire. Everyone in the underworld knew that Sai Huatuo was known for his eccentric personality. Although he had taken over the Snow Doctor Manor, he had disappeared for decades, let alone taken on any disciples. No matter how extraordinary his medical skills were, people couldn't help but wonder if his medical knowledge might one day be buried with him.
There was a faint medicinal scent wafting through Sai Huatuo's room, neither strong nor weak, and it had a peculiar quality when inhaled. The surrounding bookshelves were piled high with ancient books, some covered with a thick layer of dust that could be easily blown away with a gentle breeze.
The woman on the bed had been unconscious for a long time. When she vaguely opened her eyes, her expression was still somewhat dazed, as if she didn't know where she was.
Is she dead...?
Zhuang Su felt a dry, uncomfortable sensation in her throat, as if a ball of fire was burning inside, making her feel as if every part of her body was being scorched. Her eyes were somewhat vacant, yet she felt a sense of relief. Perhaps she was dead. Perhaps, death was for the best… She stared blankly ahead, the rooftop seeming distant in the distance, her whole body feeling utterly powerless.
"What, you're that eager to die?"
An old man's voice suddenly rang in her ears. Startled, Zhuang Su looked up and saw Sai Huatuo sitting to one side. Although he was still smiling, there was no joy in his eyes. Zhuang Su opened her mouth to say something, but only heard a few rough and unpleasant "ah" sounds. She was stunned, and a suspicion arose in her heart, making her feel inexplicably cold.
"Not afraid of death, but afraid of being mute?" Sai Huatuo sneered coldly. "You're lucky to have survived. If you weren't Qingyuan's daughter, you wouldn't have survived."
Zhuang Su's expression gradually darkened, showing no further reaction to the sudden turn of events. She looked calmly at Sai Huatuo, knowing he hadn't finished speaking. The poison she had ingested that day was "Cang Gui San," an incurable poison she had concocted during her studies in poisons; even Sai Huatuo couldn't bring her back to life. Yet, she was not dead…
Zhuang Su knew that this was inextricably linked to the "Qingyuan" he mentioned, so he could only remain silent for the time being.
Sai Huatuo had anticipated her attitude, and could only let out a heavy sigh, saying, "'Blood without poison,' have you heard of it?" He left with only this sentence, turned and walked to the door, then looked back deeply, saying, "If you want to know more, you can ask me. If you don't want to know anything more, then there is no longer a 'Zhuang Su,' only a mute girl from Snow Doctor Manor."
The moment the door closed, He Shang's voice dropped to a deep, heavy thud, as if striking her chest directly.
Zhuang Su's expressionless face suddenly lifted slightly at the corners of her lips, forming a pale arc. Some cool liquid trickled down her cheeks, feeling cool as it touched her face, before finally settling on the pillow, leaving tiny, damp marks.
Non-toxic blood. A bloodline that many dream of but cannot obtain, passed down only from generation to generation, to daughters only.
Qingyuan was immune to all poisons back then, and now it seems that it was because of the blood in her body that all poisons would gradually be neutralized and slowly eliminated upon contact with it.