Lava

Capítulo 9

"He's chatting with Mr. He."

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, you can't judge a book by its cover. Gongsun Zhi was only in his early twenties, handsome, and seemed gentle, but once he opened his mouth, even the word "patience" wouldn't be enough to stop him.

She pretended to be very interested in chatting with the celestial being from beyond the nine heavens, and he cooperated very well. The two chatted casually, and she noticed that Che Yanyan slowed down and broke away from the trio, but she would rather irritate the Che family protector than turn around and listen to a young man in the prime of his life nagging like an old man.

Gongsun Yun asked, "We'll be parting in two days. Does Miss Ji really intend to return to the Bai Ming Cult?"

"Going back is a must. After all, I am a protector... Although things have been much calmer over the past ten years, the position of protector is practically meaningless, with all the power in the hands of the sect leader. But I still have to go back," she said with a smile.

"When you mentioned that the young lady was a free spirit, your tone was full of envy..." He paused, his tone equally natural. "If you can find a safe haven, perhaps you can escape the White Bright Cult."

That's easier said than done. What power in this world could protect her? Besides, even if such a power existed, it wouldn't be a free lunch; the price would likely be high. Is Gongsun Yun trying to undermine the Bai Ming Cult, or does he have ulterior motives?

She pondered, but couldn't fathom his intentions. The Yun family manor was neutral; could it be that he was specifically giving her a chance to survive simply because she was his savior?

She subconsciously touched the two pieces of jade fragments in her sleeve pocket. On that day, faced with four pieces of jade fragments, he calmly took back only half, leaving the rest for when he had repaid his debt of gratitude.

She led him out of Tianlin that day, and now he's leading her out of the Central Plains. It seems fate has its own destiny; there's no escaping it. She casually remarked:

"Young Master Xianyun, since you write history, you must have some understanding of the Baiming Cult. The left and right protectors throughout history have been almost irreconcilable enemies. In the end, one protector always becomes the leader, while the other dies a violent death. Tell me, which fate awaits me and Protector Che?"

Upon hearing this, he stopped and looked at her.

She was slightly surprised, gazing into those handsome but unwavering eyes. "Young Master Xianyun?"

He leaned down slightly and whispered in her ear in a voice only she could hear:

"The choice for the leader has already been made, is that right?"

※ ※ ※

The choice of the cult leader has already been made.

It's her.

From the age of fifteen, she had already understood that no matter where she ran away to, no matter how many years she pretended to be stupid, that position was always waiting for her.

She slowly lowered her eyes. The night wind blew, causing her clothes to flutter, the bright red color almost swallowed by the darkness.

"girl."

"Hmm?" She didn't turn around.

"The people at Yun Family Manor have prepared clothes for tonight. Would you like to change?"

"No need." She preferred to wear her own clothes; it felt more natural and safer.

"Would you like your hair combed?"

"Okay," she said casually, picking a large rock to sit on. She touched her ever-present jade flute, her gaze falling on the moonlit stream at her feet, lost in thought.

He Zai deftly removed the hair tie, loosened her long hair, and gently combed it.

"What are you thinking about, young lady?"

"I'm wondering if anyone will succumb to his beauty tonight and accidentally have sex with him," she said absentmindedly.

"...Does the young lady mean Protector Che and Gongsun Yun?"

If not this couple, then which one? She was indifferent; as soon as night fell, she ate a quick meal and then took He Zai away from the camp. She didn't eavesdrop or peek; even if it was erotic and exciting, she remained as still as a meditating monk, utterly free of any impure thoughts…

She was curious about Xianyun Gong's expression. Would that cold, aloof mask fall off? And what would his true expression be like then?

"I hadn't paid much attention before, but had she ever failed at hunting wild animals?" she murmured to herself.

"You were young then, so naturally you wouldn't have noticed. What Protector Che wants, he will surely get." He retied her long hair and asked, "Does the young lady need some makeup touched up?"

She thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright." It seems Gongsun Yun is doomed.

He Zai walked around to her side, and without lighting a tinderbox, began skillfully reapplying her alluring makeup. She looked at He Zai, and suddenly asked...

"Hey, you're also from the Central Plains, so you must be somewhat similar to Gongsun Yun. People from the Central Plains are often reserved, but they can't resist passionate and alluring girls, right?"

"...A person who occupies a high position at a young age, without a firm resolve, cannot stay in that position for long." That was the only answer He Zai could give.

She chuckled twice, agreeing. "It depends on the situation. No one is perfect, and Gongsun Yun is no exception. He must have weaknesses. Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman... Hey, you can still go back now. Even if you have the Heavenly Slave mark, He Ronghua won't look down on you."

He Zai remained silent for a moment before saying, "I will follow you, young lady."

She didn't press him why he insisted on going with her. In the end, he would regret it anyway, so all the touching words now would be meaningless.

"Do you think the sect leader would spare me if I returned with a full head of white hair?"

"Unless the girl dies, the cult leader will not let her go."

"You don't have to be so certain." She was already disheartened; there was no need to hit her harder.

"You knew all along that if I went back to see my father off, I would definitely be taken back by the cult leader, but you still allowed me to go. Why?" he suddenly asked.

Without changing her expression, she stroked her precious jade flute, closed her eyes to face the night breeze, and said, "Because... I respect the elderly and the virtuous."

He Zai's gaze fell on her eyelids. "That's not how you use that phrase."

She laughed out loud. "That's just how I talk. He Zai, if you're going to follow me, you'll have to get used to the way I talk."

He Zai nodded. "What you say is true, young lady. Since I'm going to follow you, I should naturally get used to your way of speaking."

Her expression remained natural, but the fingers holding the flute trembled slightly.

"Go check if Che Yanyan's night raid was successful. If the young couple is still all lovey-dovey, find out where Gongsun Zhi and those Heavenly Slaves went. We'll stay with them tonight to avoid any accidents."

He Zai quietly withdrew.

The summer night breeze was a bit hot, but there was a hint of dampness in the air, suggesting a heavy thunderstorm was likely tomorrow. She paced back and forth, lost in thought, when she suddenly noticed her fingers twitching occasionally, and couldn't help but chuckle.

It turns out that He Ronghua's trembling hands were not a hidden ailment, but rather an emotional outburst when she saw her biological brother return, which she had been suppressing but which burst forth during his questioning.

He Zai's current appearance is quite different from when he was young. In particular, like her, he always wears a dark and sinister look when he goes out. He Ronghua was able to recognize him at a glance, which must have been a long-term plan.

She looked at her fingers, unable to stop smiling. It turned out she had quite a few weaknesses; when she got excited, she was almost just like He Zai's younger brother.

Stick with her?

He Zai didn't say it explicitly, but she knew that the words "follow me for life" encompassed a lifetime.

"Forever and ever?" He said it so easily. It's easy to say, but hard to do, and she understood that very well. He Ronghua hoped her brother would stay at Tianhe Manor, but He Zai chose to go with her. The reason wasn't hard to figure out. He Zai had been by her side for ten years, and both his appearance and his inner self had changed. He was no longer suitable to stay in the Central Plains, a place with such complicated etiquette. The only way for him was to walk the same path as her.

She was very happy that He Zai went with her.

The cool, damp wind brought her back to her senses, allowing her to focus on her next move. In two more days, she would be leaving the Central Plains. She refused to believe the sect leader wouldn't take action. If Che Yanyan had only come to bring her back to the sect and nothing else happened, she'd chop off her head and use it as a chair!

What could happen? The position of cult leader would surely be passed on within a year. What tricks would the cult leader use to force her to submit? She pondered and considered.

She thought and thought, and suddenly a chill ran down her spine.

She suddenly looked up.

The mountain forest scenery was barely visible at night, and the handsome man's figure was only ten steps away. If it weren't for the rustling of his robes, she would hardly be sure that someone was in front of her.

"Miss Yun."

The voice was like a clear, flowing spring, like a gentle breeze caressing her face, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason. Not only did her heart skip a beat, but she was also horrified by the person's complete silence.

"Young Master Xianyun, it's so late..." The young couple was missing one member; how did he manage to smooth things over?

"It's so late, young lady should go back to the camp to rest." The voice was warm yet carried an innate chill. Then, he emerged from the darkness, bathed in the hazy moonlight. He raised his eyebrows and smiled at her.

Her eyes widened suddenly.

He walked to the large rock beside her, lifted the hem of his robe and sat down, saying to himself:

"You must be wondering how I found you. You have a bell on your wrist; its sound rings in the wind, and you can find someone by following the sound." Seeing that she didn't reply, he laughed, "Did you teach me how to bewitch you with my beauty, young lady?"

"...You're joking, Young Master Xianyun," she said hoarsely, heaven knows how much effort she had to muster to squeeze out the words.

She stepped forward and looked him over again. What had she just seen? His smile revealed his captivating charm; he was clearly a man of exceptional beauty, yet she felt a strange daze within her…

"...a long, graceful neck, fair skin...bright red lips, pearly white teeth, bright, expressive eyes, and charming dimples...so alluring with words..."

"Miss Yun?"

"...Don't mind me. Lately, I've had a lot of luck with the Goddess of the Luo River...Young Master Xianyun, do you have dimples?"

He paused slightly, then said, "Miss Yun observes very carefully." He seemed about to laugh again.

She snapped out of her reverie and coughed. The young master Xianyun had dimples when he smiled; she wondered if spreading this news would bring any benefit.

"There are some things that are inconvenient to discuss during the day, but since it's just the two of us now, let's lay it all out." He said seriously, "If you want to leave the Bai Ming Cult, the Yun Family Manor can help you."

She paused, stared at him for a long time, and then said without refuting or admitting it:

"The Yun Family Manor is neutral, and the deeds of the young masters are widely talked about in the Central Plains martial arts world, but no one has ever described the Yun Family Manor as the Guanyin Bodhisattva who saves people from suffering."

"That's naturally because my relationship with them isn't deep enough."

"Just because I once saved you, you're making an exception to help me? Young Master Xianyun, your calculations aren't very shrewd. Back then, I merely led you out of Tianlin. To be honest, in these past few years, I've saved far more than just scions of noble families like yourself..."

"Did everyone come down from Tianbi Cliff?" His voice was unusual, and his gaze was slightly sharp.

"Of course not. So far, you're the only one who has been able to ascend Tianbi Cliff. What I did was nothing more than a small favor, but what Master Xianyun wants to do is tantamount to opposing the Bai Ming Cult. Wouldn't that make me owe you something?"

"Does it really matter whether you owe them or not? You can reconsider. Just say the word, and I'll do everything I can to help."

"..." The problem isn't the debt itself, since it's common for people to owe money and not repay it. The real issue is Gongsun Yun's true intentions.

A knock, a clatter, someone's coming. He rose from the large rock, flicked his sleeve, and said:

"After leaving Tianhe Manor, we've been followed by people, but they're all from various factions in the Central Plains. I've already ordered someone to find Young Master Number to persuade them to leave. The young lady is innocent, but her identity makes her vulnerable to attack." He glanced at someone over her shoulder. He added, "I will do my utmost to protect the young lady and prevent anyone from taking advantage of her."

"Thank you, young master!" she said with a smile. "With Young Master Xianyun's assurance, I feel at ease."

"Let's head back to camp soon."

She smiled and bowed, following him towards the camp. Anyway, Che Yanyan's night raid failed; it wasn't her fault. Blame it on the celestial being's unbreakable willpower, or perhaps he simply wasn't susceptible to the allure of beauty…

He Zai followed behind her, and she asked in a low voice:

"Has someone been following us these past few days?"

"Yes, they are all young people who followed us all the way from Tianhe Village."

She hesitated for a moment, then whispered:

"The matter of the Heavenly Slave has always been a concern for the Central Plains martial arts world. I thought they would wait until Gongsun Yun left before making their move, but now that Gongsun Yun is trying to persuade them to back down, they won't refuse. The only concern is that the sect leader might use underhanded tactics..." It's a real headache. It's easy to guess someone's thoughts, but trying to understand what a madman would do is excruciatingly painful. She's not mad; how could she possibly guess?

All she knew was that something would happen before she left the Central Plains, and the sect leader would never let this opportunity slip by easily!

Upon arriving at the camp, she saw Gongsun Yun and Gongsun Zhi sitting together with their eyes closed, resting, while Tiannu and Che Yanyan were at the other end. She exclaimed in astonishment: