clergé - Chapitre 116
“That’s right. Bai Xiaosheng was planted by the sect leader ten years ago next to Gu Xiju. He has always been a member of the Baiyue Sect.” Nan Yi took off the black cloth from his cheek and smiled confidently.
"Over the years, he has worked his way up step by step, finally becoming Gu Xiju's confidant. Gu Xiju considers himself a master strategist, but how could he have imagined that the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?" He sneered. "The sect leader has issued an ultimatum to Bai Xiaosheng, and I'm afraid Gu Xiju will not live past today."
Pang Wan shivered. She suddenly remembered that after Bai Xiaosheng was scratched by Xue Ba, Nan Yi disguised himself and came to detoxify him. She hadn't expected there to be this connection... "Since you had such a brilliant move as Bai Xiaosheng, why didn't you use it sooner?" She looked at Nan Yi with great confusion.
Nan Yi sighed: "Gu Xiju has always acted as if he appreciates him, and even entrusted the Jade Dragon Token to him. Bai Xiaosheng almost betrayed him completely despite the poison in his body. It was thanks to you stealing the Jade Dragon Token that he realized Gu Xiju had never trusted him from beginning to end, so he was willing to accept the sect leader's order."
Pang Wan couldn't help but exclaim "Ah!" Although she failed to achieve her goal of seizing the Jade Dragon Token and causing Gu Xiju to break his promise to the world, she inadvertently caused him to lose his life. Could this be considered a lucky accident?
"Let's wait at the inn. We should have news by tomorrow at the latest." Nan Yi patted her face. "The sect leader is even more anxious than you."
Pang Wan suddenly remembered that he had just said "leader" instead of "father".
"You and the cult leader..." She looked up at him with a nervous expression.
“You don’t need to know about adult matters.” Nan Yi was taken aback, then gently stroked her hair. “You just need to know that no matter what happens, I will always be your senior brother.” Upon hearing this, Pang Wan’s tears streamed down her face.
The two senior and junior disciples sat together and talked for a long time, including where Nan Yi went and what he did after leaving the Moon Worship Sect. Naturally, Pang Wan also told him his story with He Qinglu, but concealed his identity as the young master of the Lonely Palace. After listening, Nan Yi remained silent for a long time before saying, "Is this Young Master He a trustworthy person?" His dark eyes stared at Pang Wan without moving.
Pang Wan nodded involuntarily, recalling He Qinglu's behavior along the way: "He is genuinely good to me."
She hadn't experienced any earth-shattering events, but in the passing days, she discovered his clumsy and inarticulate care, and felt his firm and unwavering love. Although He Qinglu appeared to be a cold and arrogant nobleman, he had a pure and sincere heart inside.
"Do you like him?" Nan Yi paused, then suddenly asked her, his words as blunt and direct as his gaze.
Pang Wan froze, then lowered her head shyly—she was attached to He Qinglu and couldn't bear to see him even slightly sad or upset. Perhaps, this was a kind of affection?
Looking at her shy, girlish expression, Nan Yi understood somewhat. He was silent for a moment, then reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear: "Are you really planning to leave with him?"
Pang Wan looked up, about to answer, but swallowed her words, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on the back of the Southern Barbarians.
He Qinglu stood stiffly at the door, her slender fingers resting on the brass buckle, clearly having just pushed the door open and entered.
"Young Master..." She swallowed unconsciously.
He Qinglu frowned, but didn't move. She simply called out indifferently, "Aren't you coming over?" Her tone and expression were extremely impatient.
Pang Wan immediately got up obediently.
Suddenly, someone grabbed his arm.
"I'm talking to my junior sister, when did it become your place to interrupt?" Nan Yi stepped in front of her, his face cold.
He Qinglu frowned even more deeply. He chose to ignore the Southern Barbarians and simply turned his head to give a light command behind him: "Come here."
Upon hearing this icy voice, Pang Wan knew that the other party was on the verge of exploding, so he quickly peeked out from behind Nan Yi.
"Coming, coming." She brushed aside Nan Yi's hand and ran briskly toward the door.
The Southern Barbarians were slightly taken aback.
"Young master, this is my senior brother, you've all met him before." Pang Wan grabbed He Qinglu's arm and pulled him forward with a grin. "Come, come, let's all get to know each other."
He Qinglu was reluctantly dragged to Nan Yi's side, and the two elegant young people stood in the room, staring at each other.
"Treat her well." After a long silence, Nan Yi finally spoke, patting He Qinglu's shoulder. "If you hurt her even a little, I will chase you to the ends of the earth and grind you to dust." With that, Nan Yi turned and left, his aloof figure looking incredibly dashing.
"Wow, I had no idea my senior brother would cherish me so much!" Pang Wan clicked her tongue as she watched Nan Yi's departing figure, then grinned and nudged the person beside her, "Young master, did you hear that? My senior brother is backing me up!"
He Qinglu was both angry and annoyed, and slapped her on the forehead: "Try getting that close to him again in the future!"
"Watch out, I'll chop off his hand first!" Pang Wan chuckled foolishly, scratching his head.
The young master is so good now. He trusts her, protects her, and won't hurt her because of jealousy. Back when he learned about her entanglement with Gu Xiju, he was furious and locked himself in his room for three days and three nights. In the end, however, he still went along with her revenge plan, let her go, prepared the tools she needed, and helped her escape danger at a critical moment.
"As long as you come back alive and willingly come with me." That was the only reward he asked for. Pang Wan, holding He Qinglu's arm, recounted the entire sacrificial ceremony to her, then said indignantly, "I don't know what's wrong with those old sect leaders. They all say that Gu Xiju's Jade Dragon Token is real, but its shape and color don't match at all. Are they all blind?"
He Qinglu remained silent for a moment, then said indifferently, "No, it's not that everyone is blind, but that everyone is selectively taking sides."
Pang Wan was startled and looked up at him expectantly.
“It seems Gu Xiju has invested heavily, using both threats and inducements to bribe a group of martial arts elders. With these people backing him up, even if he takes out a stone and claims it's the Jade Dragon Token, I doubt anyone would object.” He Qinglu smiled at her, looking as if she had expected it. “Whether it’s right or wrong, good or evil, everyone has their own scale in their heart. The scale represents their own interests, and everyone will choose the answer that is most beneficial to themselves, rather than the answer that is closest to the truth.”
Pang Wan remained silent for a long time after listening; she thought of Rashomon.
"Do you know why the Lonely Palace never gets involved in the struggle between good and evil?" He Qinglu sighed. "Because there is no simple way to distinguish between good and evil, and my second uncle just happens to be a lazy person who likes to live a carefree life."
Pang Wan reflected on everything she had seen and heard since entering the martial world, and couldn't help but feel lonely. She had once envied the noble ladies of prestigious families, because they were born with pure backgrounds and were not subject to discrimination. However, now it seemed that things in this world were not always absolute.
That said, what would happen to the martial arts world if Bai Xiaosheng really killed Gu Xiju? Would He Shannai take over as the leader of the alliance? That old man wasn't exactly a saint either, and the entanglement between the Baiyue Cult and the righteous sects would continue endlessly.
She touched the jade dragon token in her sleeve and remained silent for a long time.
"Have you had a headache today? Is anything bothering you?" He Qinglu asked her with concern, putting his arm around her shoulder as usual.
Pang Wan shook her head and gently nestled into his arms.
Let's wait until tomorrow. Once we hear news of Bai Xiaosheng's success, she can hand over the Jade Dragon Token to the Southern Barbarians with peace of mind, and then leave this complicated world with He Qinglu to go to that mysterious place.
However, she did not receive news of Gu Xiju's death the next day.
At dawn, as usual, Azhuo brought medicine to Pang Wan's bedside, intending to wake her up.
However, Pang Wan did not open her eyes as usual this time; her eyes remained tightly closed, and she showed no reaction whatsoever.
Ah Zhuo's expression changed, and he immediately went to check her breathing and feel her pulse.
A moment later, with a loud crash, the medicine bowl in Ah Zhuo's hand was knocked to the ground, and the dark soup meandered along the floor, quietly flowing towards an unknown place.