Ваше Величество

Глава 40

Jun Ye'an reached out her hand, her fingertips gently caressing the silver lock that still held her warmth, and sighed softly, "Silly child."

"It's a pity I can't avenge Qinglong." She said with a hint of regret, "In the end, I was... just one step behind."

"Early Summer, did you agree to marry Yin Hai for my sake?" He paused for a moment, then said softly, "What did you promise him?"

He called her by that name again, but she didn't resist at all. She smiled gently and said, "It's Chuxia then. Night well, our acquaintance started with this name. I was so foolish."

He slowly reached out and wiped away her tears, whispering, "You still haven't told me what you promised him?"

“I told him I was a young lady from the Jun family… I wanted to find Jun Ye’an and get him to give me half of the property and land under the Jun family name, and then I would give him the other half.” She smiled slyly. “Of course, the premise was that he had to help me find you. But I don’t know why, after he found you, he refused to tell me.”

Jun Ye'an laughed loudly: "Silly child... that's Yin Hai, he probably likes you too."

Chu Xia smiled, then turned to Su Fenghua and said, "Where is your master? He must be here for a scene like this today, right?"

Su Fenghua coughed softly, but did not answer.

"Actually, I already guessed who he was, but at this moment, I only want to know one thing, then I can die in peace."

"Oh, what do you want to know?"

Jun Ye'an reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, but sighed softly, "Girl, are you still unable to let go of the matter of brother and sister at this moment?"

Chu Xia glared at him and said angrily, "I'm not like you, Jun Ye'an. Even if I die, I want to die knowing why."

Su Fenghua laughed and said, "Good! Good! In that case, I will invite the master out and explain himself!"

Chapter Forty (Part 1)

The man finally entered the room, dressed in black, standing silently, his face still expressionless, like a piece of wood, just as he always had in early summer. However, this time, he didn't bow to Jun Ye'an, but stood arrogantly to the side, a hint of smugness in his expression.

Cang Qianlang.

Although Chu Xia had already guessed a few things, at this moment she still exclaimed softly, "It really is you."

Cang Qianlang looked at Jun Ye'an and said, "You don't seem very surprised."

Jun Ye'an did not answer, but looked at Chu Xia with gentle eyes and said, "What do you want to ask? The head steward is here, so please ask."

Chu Xia nodded, her face pale as she looked at Cang Qianlang. Although she tried her best to remain composed, her voice trembled slightly: "Are we... really siblings?"

Cang Qianlang pondered for a moment: "No."

"You finally told the truth." Chu Xia breathed a sigh of relief. In the brief moment before he answered, a layer of cold sweat broke out on her back. She paused, then smiled. "Cang Qianlang, although I hate you for destroying Huansha Sect, killing Qinglong, and forcing me to separate from him for two years, I also thank you for telling us the truth."

“Little girl, you are actually quite intelligent. You and Jun Ye’an are a good match.” Cang Qianlang smiled slightly and said to Chu Xia, “It’s not too late for you two to go underground and become a pair of star-crossed lovers.”

"Then... the iron box we obtained in the secret chamber of Junshan that day, the letters inside must be related to my father, and also to the Huansha Sect." Jun Ye'an gazed at Cang Qianlang and pondered.

Cang Qianlang narrowed his eyes and said, "Jun Ye'an, you are easier to deal with than I thought. In the past two years, Chu Xia has been unwilling to give up and has been trying to find the person behind the scenes—but you, you are like a lonely ghost wandering the martial world. Your dejected state makes me look down on you."

Chu Xia snorted coldly, inwardly resentful, unwilling to lose face verbally, and couldn't help but say, "Your tricks are nothing special. Do you really think I can't see through them?"

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."

"Jun Ye'an has retired from the martial world, but the Jun family mansion still exists, and you have full control over it. Who benefits the most from this whole affair? Naturally, it's you. Even a fool could guess that."

"Oh. And what about this fool? I've been by his side for over a decade... and he knows nothing." Cang Qianlang smiled at Jun Ye'an. "Young Master, what do you say?"

“Qianlang, I have never doubted you—until this message sent by carrier pigeon.” Jun Ye’an quietly toyed with the thin sheet of paper with his fingertips and said softly, “You are a little too impatient.”

Cang Qianlang's expression stiffened slightly.

"You warned me to be careful of the Di family. At the time, I wondered if the mastermind was hiding in the Di family. Later, Chu Xue injured me with a hidden weapon... It seems that the Di family was behind everything, but upon closer inspection, it was your oversight."

Chu Xia also turned her gaze in curiosity.

Jun Ye smiled calmly: "Qianlang, you still don't understand the word 'love.' If she wants my life, what's wrong with giving it to her? Why bother with someone else? I understand this principle, and the little girl naturally understands it too."

His words came out so naturally that Chu Xia was taken aback, her eyes reddening slightly. She quietly reached out and intertwined her fingers with his, feeling a deep warmth in her heart.

"Then I thought, if you really were the mastermind behind it all, then it makes sense." A sharp glint appeared in Jun Ye'an's eyes. "Knowing that I suspected there was a spy in the mansion, you threw out the 'He Buchu' incident; you used me to unravel the mystery of the Mountain and Water Ballad and take the things from the secret chamber of Junshan; finally, you forced me to retire from the martial world. You have indeed been extremely meticulous in your actions."

Cang Qianlang laughed, his voice long and drawn out: "Jun Ye'an, the secret hidden in the Ballad of Mountains and Rivers is rightfully mine! In what way am I inferior to you? You enjoy all the glory outside, while what about me? Am I born to be your servant?"

His face twisted slightly, his eyes filled with unending hatred.

Jun Ye'an was taken aback and sighed softly, "Qianlang, I have never regarded you as a servant."

“Jun Ye’an, you are just like your father, Jun Tianyou, a hypocrite who says one thing but means another. Do you know why I became the so-called head steward of your Jun family?” He sneered. “Do you know how the Tiangang Sect was founded? Do you know what your good father did?”

Jun Ye'an lowered her eyes, and after a long while, she finally said, "You speak."

"Twenty years ago, Jun Tianyou, Tu Feng, and Hui Feng claimed to be the righteous force in the martial arts world, but secretly they founded the Tiangang organization to eliminate those they felt they could not openly kill. My father was the leader of this shady organization."

Jun Ye'an was finally slightly moved and said in a low voice, "So that's how it is."

"Jun Tianyou brought me to the Jun residence, ostensibly to keep you company, but in reality to use me as a hostage. For three years, he risked his life for others, losing his right leg and going blind in his left eye. Jun Tianyou finally trusted him completely. Until one day—the day the Green Willow Lane tragedy occurred—your father realized that there seemed to be something hidden."

"According to the intelligence, the person Tian Gang was supposed to kill was a bandit hiding in Green Willow Lane. However, when they finally took action, the entire lane was killed, but the bandit was not found. Your father initially remained calm, but secretly investigated and discovered that Tian Gang was no longer the organization it was three years ago."

Jun Ye'an frowned slightly and finished speaking for him: "Presumably, your father has long been impatient with being subordinate to others, and the Heavenly Gang is no longer the same Heavenly Gang. It has become your father's killing machine, and your father has secretly amassed countless riches and martial arts manuals obtained from the massacre of his family. Is that right?"

“That’s right,” Cang Qianlang said in a deep voice, “He deserves it.”

Jun Ye'an stared at him without saying a word, her eyes filled with a faint look of pity.

"Huifeng was the first to see through all of this and was killed by Tiangang. Your father feigned remorse, forced my father to commit suicide, and locked the wealth and secret manuals my father had acquired in the secret chamber of Junshan Mountain, leaving only a landscape painting as a warning. Of course, my father's death did not mean that Tiangang was extinct. He did not know... that I still had something left behind."

"He left me a list of those assassins. That's why, ten years later, I was able to find them all and rebuild the Heavenly Gang."

“You are indeed reserved and patient… I hadn’t considered that.” Jun Ye’an remained silent for a long time before saying, “Then what is the connection between the Huansha Sect and my father?”

"The Washing Silk Sect actually has nothing to do with your father. It started with a woman in Green Willow Lane who was pregnant and happened to escape a disaster. Your father felt very guilty, so he gave her a lot of money and even promised that if the child she gave birth to was a girl, she would marry into the Jun family. Later, the woman went south to find her clansmen and used the money to help some unfortunate women. Gradually, it became a sect."

"I... am the child in my womb?" Chu Xia's voice trembled slightly as she asked incredulously, "That woman, is she my mother?"

"Your mother passed away early and entrusted you to the sect leader." Su Fenghua interjected casually, "It is true that you are engaged to Jun Ye'an."

In early summer, joy gently rippled in her eyes and brows, and she couldn't help but whisper to Jun Ye'an, "See, I didn't lie to you."

He reached out and ruffled her hair, saying gently, "Yes, I misunderstood you before; it was my fault."

"You know everything you need to know. Now you can die in peace, can't you?" Cang Qianlang laughed. "Young Master, will you do it, or shall I?"

Chu Xia broke free from Jun Ye'an's grasp, stood up, and said calmly, "Kill me first." She turned back to Jun Ye'an and smiled without any fear, "Young master, I'm sorry... I can't bear to see you die in front of me, so I can only... let you watch me go first."

Jun Ye'an stood up with her, his hands behind his back beside her, and said calmly, "Silly girl, who said we would die?"

Chu Xia was taken aback.

“At first, we were siblings, and I couldn’t bear to see you die… Now that’s not the case, I can’t speak of death so lightly.” A slight smile appeared on his lips, and his phoenix eyes narrowed, exuding an indescribable confidence and charm.

"Your poison has been cured?" Chu Xia was overjoyed and couldn't help but ask, while Cang Qianlang and Su Fenghua were both taken aback.

Jun Ye'an shook her head: "No."

Her face suddenly darkened.

Jun Ye'an smiled faintly, "Chu Xia, who told you that you'll lose if you don't have internal energy?"

The room was silent.

After a long silence, Cang Qianlang coldly said:

"Not having internal energy doesn't necessarily mean defeat, but—Jun Ye'an, who doesn't even have the Yuyang Sword in his hand, is certain to die."

Chapter Forty (Part Two)

Cang Qianlang held the world-renowned Yuyang Sword in his hand. With a slight pressure between his thumb and forefinger, he immediately pressed two fingerprints on both sides of the scabbard.

He threw the longsword to the ground with a clang and sneered, "I'm afraid you can't even pull the blade out right now."

Jun Ye'an was not offended. He turned around, picked up the very ordinary green steel sword on the table, and sighed, "Qianlang, you care too much about so-called famous swords. You should know that when a master kills, even a blade of grass or a thread can be a deadly weapon. Half a year ago, I pawned this sword and used the money to buy wine. It's really kind of you to find it again."

Cang Qianlang remained unperturbed: "To be honest, I know that Young Master Ye An is not so easy to kill. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to offer in your fight against me."

“My swordsmanship remains, but my internal energy is completely gone. I certainly have no chance of winning. But right now, I’m betting on you,” Jun Ye’an said firmly. “I’m betting that you’ve practiced the martial arts manual left in the secret chamber of Junshan.”

Cang Qianlang was taken aback.

“You may not know how my father died. Years ago, he accidentally saw an internal energy cultivation manual that your father had looted. He progressed very quickly when he first started practicing it. But later, his three Yin meridians were severely damaged.” Jun Ye’an pursed his lips slightly and said softly, “This cultivation manual conflicts with the original cultivation manual of my Jun family. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but every day at noon, the Yin energy is at its peak, and your meridians are unstable, with the Yin energy running rampant—isn’t that right?”

Cang Qianlang frowned, secretly adjusting his breathing. He recalled that over the past six months, strange auras had frequently surged within his body, and he couldn't help but show a look of horror.

Jun Ye'an smiled more openly: "Qianlang, why don't you try circulating your inner energy to Taixi, Sanyinjiao, and Lougu, and see how it feels?"

Su Fenghua noticed the strange expression on Cang Qianlang's face and took half a step forward, saying, "Be careful, don't fall for his tricks."

Cang Qianlang waved his hand lightly, his face dark, and said, "It's alright, these three acupoints are insignificant."

Following Jun Ye'an's advice, he slowly regulated his internal energy upwards. Suddenly, his left leg felt numb and tingly. He was terrified and tried to lift it, but it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Jun Ye'an stood with his hands behind his back and smiled faintly, "How is it?"

Cang Qianlang's face was gloomy and he didn't say a word. He swung the soft whip at his waist and stabbed straight at Jun Ye'an's chest.

He stood still, neither dodging nor avoiding: "Don't you want to know how to resolve this?"

As the nine-section whip plunged into Li Junye's chest, Chu Xia's heart pounded wildly.

Cang Qianlang slightly loosened his grip and said in a deep voice, "Are you willing to talk?"

Jun Ye'an smiled but remained silent. His black hair was now disheveled due to the intense wind from the whip, but he showed no panic. A smile played on his lips, as if he did not care about the life-or-death situation he was in.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and Cang Qianlang's expression grew increasingly stiff. The cool, yin energy began at his ankles, slowly rising until it spread to his waist.

Jun Ye'an weighed the steel sword in his hand and smiled, "Would you still like to duel with me?"

“Noon…it’s not even noon yet, why is this happening?” Cang Qianlang was horrified. He tried to move his fingers, but found that they were stiff as fossils and could not be moved even an inch.

“Taixi, Sanyinjiao, and Lougu are naturally harmless to ordinary martial arts practitioners.” Jun Ye’an smiled meaningfully. “Before my father died… these three acupoints were blocked and obstructed, which was extremely terrifying. He once told the divine physician that if these three acupoints were triggered by one’s own internal force, the whole body would stiffen and suffer unspeakable pain.”

Cang Qianlang's face stiffened, his long whip drooping to the ground, and he said with a bitter smile, "It seems that you have won in the end."

Jun Ye'an held the steel sword to Cang Qianlang's throat and sighed softly, "Qianlang, if you feel that the Jun family has wronged you, it would be fine to return everything to you. However, you should not have killed innocent people, and you should not have killed Qinglong. With this sword, I will give you a quick death."

With a swift movement, he brought his sword down, and Cang Qianlang's eyes bulged slightly before he fell heavily to the ground.

Seeing the situation take such a sharp turn for the worse, Su Fenghua turned deathly pale, her folding fan nowhere to be found, and she said in a trembling voice, "Ahui, you—"