Zhou Yicong's face was as cold as frost, a deathly ashen color. He struggled to open his eyes, his gaze unfocused.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he fixed them on me, reaching out to grab my ankle.
It happened so suddenly that I was caught off guard. His strength was astonishing. He pulled me so hard that I almost fell on top of him. Yunzhou reached out and caught me. My master slashed at Zhou Yicong's wrist, but he held my ankle tightly, as if using all the strength he had left.
He stared intently at me, his lips parted slightly as he murmured, "Mei...Meiduo."
The most precious Jade Pill of the Xiaoyao Sect was exchanged for only three words from Zhou Yicong.
Although he was dead, his blood-red eyes were still staring intently at me, and his fingers were still stubbornly gripping my ankle. Looking at those hook-like fingers and those bloodshot eyes, I was terrified and felt a chill run down my spine.
Helpless, Master had no choice but to pry open his fingers one by one. Being entangled like this by a dead man made me tremble with fear. Yunzhou supported me, and I almost wanted to lean entirely on his arm, drawing warmth to drive away this terrible, eerie cold.
"Master!"
It was Jiang Chen's voice. I turned around and saw him walking down from Wanxiao Pavilion, his steps slightly unsteady. He looked at me, then his gaze shifted to Yun Zhou, and he smiled at him: "I didn't expect Senior Brother Yun to come too."
Yunzhou smiled back at him: "You'll be fine after taking the antidote, right?"
"The pain will go away after taking the antidote. I saw what happened up there. I was so anxious that I was going crazy, but I couldn't muster any strength. Fortunately, Madam Qing intervened in time."
I called out "Jiang Chen" softly, but I didn't have the strength to say anything. Even the sword pressed against my neck wasn't as terrifying as when Zhou Yicong grabbed my ankle.
Jiang Chen pulled me close and whispered, "Xiao Mo, you're finally safe and sound."
I whispered, "Thankfully, you're safe and sound too."
Madam Qing said, "Sect Leader Shi, it's getting late. Let's stay on the island for the night and set off back tomorrow."
After a moment's thought, the master said, "Very well. Yunzhou, go and call our senior uncles here."
"yes."
Yunzhou drew his sword and headed towards the front hall of Jinbo Palace.
Jiang Chen asked, "Master, have the other uncles arrived too?"
Master nodded silently, and after a long while looked at me and said in a low voice, "I thought there would be a fierce battle when we came to Jinbo Palace, so I called my uncles and we split up to go to the island. I didn't expect that after we got to the island, we met Qingyao. She said that your mother had instructed that when you see me, you should see him. No one is allowed to disobey her, otherwise it would be a betrayal of Jinbo Palace."
I was stunned. My mother had given such an order, and strangely, my master didn't know about it. So, what kind of relationship did he have with my mother?
Madam Qing said, "After the Palace Master left, she entrusted the affairs of the island to Protector Zhou, and we all had to obey his orders. But she also instructed that if we encountered Headmaster Shi of the Xiaoyao Sect, it would be as if we were seeing her, and everyone would obey Headmaster Shi's orders, including Protector Zhou."
The master asked, "Qingyao, where is Protector Zhou now?"
Madam Qing said, "In my opinion, he may have died three years ago. Zhou Yicong coveted the position of protector of Jinbo Palace, so he impersonated him and exercised the power of protector in order to take control of Jinbo Palace."
The master asked sadly, "Palace Master, has she not returned?"
"I've come back a few times, but each time it was a quick visit. The last time was four years ago."
The master remained silent. After a long while, he said, "If she comes back, tell her that I want to see her one last time."
"Yes, Sect Leader Shi."
My master silently picked up his sword and walked towards the sea. The sea breeze lifted the corners of his robes, making them flutter like clouds. He had his back to me, gazing at the setting sun where the sea and sky met. His tall figure was elegant and aloof. Looking at his thin and lonely back, I felt that he had a lot on his mind, an unspeakable sadness and disappointment.
Before long, several senior uncles and Yunzhou arrived quickly. Seventh Senior Uncle called out from afar, "Senior Brother Shi, why didn't you send a signal?"
Master turned around and slowly said, "After I went ashore, I met Qingyao. She said that Palace Master Murong had instructed that as long as one meets me, it is as if one meets her, and no one in Jinbo Palace is allowed to disobey my orders."
Master Qi slapped his thigh: "Hey, you should have said so earlier! You made us all come out in full force, as if facing a formidable enemy. Turns out it's so simple. Alright, let's just consider it a sea voyage."
The master lowered his head sadly and murmured, "I only found out today."
I felt that my master was very different today than usual. I really wanted to go up and ask him, but I also felt that given his personality, he probably wouldn't tell me.
Madam Qing said, "Please rest in the front, everyone. I will have someone prepare a meal immediately."
Master forced a smile: "Thank you for your trouble." Then he and his uncle followed Madam Qing toward the front hall.
Just as I was about to follow, Jiang Chen grabbed my arm.
"What's wrong?"
He didn't speak or take a step, just looked at me and snorted.
I was a little confused and stared at him blankly, not understanding what he meant.
He looked at me, his thin lips pressed into a line, with an air of aloofness at the corners of his mouth, while the corners of his eyes were slightly upturned, inexplicably carrying a hint of peach blossom color. He first gave me a sidelong glance, seemingly angry but not angry, and then let out a low hum.
I was astonished. This was clearly the way a girl would act when she was being sulky and coquettish, and he could actually pull it off! I secretly admired him, but I also had to admit that his slightly annoyed and sulky demeanor was indescribably charming and handsome, simply uniquely elegant.
I was both annoyed and amused, and I slammed my hands down: "This is ridiculous, I'm ignoring you."
He gripped my hand tightly and said fiercely, "Xiao Mo, I just saw you leaning against Yun Zhou."
My face flushed, and I quickly whispered, "No! It was, it was leaning on his arm, because Zhou Yicong was holding my ankle, and I couldn't stand steadily. I was also terrified."
He snorted again, his eyes filled with even more resentment and annoyance.
I wanted to laugh, but I knew I absolutely couldn't, otherwise it would seem like I didn't care about his feelings, and I was afraid he would get even angrier. Oh well, I'll just try to appease him.
"Jiang Chen, it's really not what you think." I really didn't expect him to be angry about this. How strange. Before, when he took me to see Yunzhou, he even boasted about his magnanimity. Was he just putting on a brave face all along? Sigh, a man's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.
He didn't speak, he just hummed.
I couldn't hold back any longer and said through gritted teeth, "Jiang Chen, you can get jealous over this? You're so petty."