Dongfang Bubai’s voice was faint, the emotions within could not be discerned, as if he had a mild and calm manner. However, not knowing why, when the two little guards looked at this kind of cult master, they felt chilled to the bone.
Thud–
The guards fell to their knees in an instant, their bodies shook violently and their eyes stared blankly in dread. “Cult Master… What does Cult Master want… want to know?”
“Guard Yang was taken along into town to Yichun Courtyard?” Dongfang Bubai did not look at the two guards who were kneeling on the ground and kept kowtowing. His eyes were shifting erratically. Not knowing when the light in his originally brilliant pair of eyes had dimmed until they were without hope.
In fact, there was no need to ask. The energy flowing through his ears was more than enough to hear any matter within several li, much less within a few zhang. He had clearly heard the words they had just said. At this moment, there’s no need to ask again, is there?
Pulling up the corners of his mouth with difficulty, Dongfang Bubai lightly let out a long breath. His entire body felt as cold as ice, his every limb shivered slightly. The flow of his qi and blood reversed abruptly, yet he forced down the metallic taste of blood coming up his throat and slowly closed his eyes.
Suddenly, he wanted to laugh.
Opening his eyes, he raised his right hand and looked at it for a long, long time. He was the leading martial artist of the Wulin, the Evil Demon infamous amongst the Righteous Path, and the Master of the Sun Moon Holy Cult. On his path, who knew how many people’s fresh blood had stained his hands.
Every person who offended me, who made me the unhappy in the slightest, I killed each and every one.
Let alone, who betrayed me.
He promised to love me.
Yang Lianting promised to love me for eternity.
The glint in Dongfang Bubai’s eyes gradually became fierce. He clenched his hands into fists, the nails piercing into his flesh. Today, Yang Lianting dared to betray him like this– In his mind, Yang Lianting’s familiar face appeared. In an instant, Dongfang Bubai’s body shuddered violently and his face paled, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Even if Lian di cheated on me, deceived me, betrayed me… what can I do?
Kill him?
Dongfang Bubai slowly closed his eyes, he felt a dull pain in his distressed heart. He originally was an incomplete abnormity, a yin and yang person[12] who could not see the bright light of day. Lian di was willing to be together with him, this was already not an easy matter. How can I deprive him of the activities a normal man needs?
Not to mention.
Killing him.
Half of Dongfang Bubai’s face was obscured by the darkness, after waving away the guards who were trembling with fear and trepidation, Dongfang Bubai was left standing all by himself.
The night on Blackwood Cliff was chillingly cold and windy. His red long robe was blown upwards by the winds blowing by, even his hair as black as raven feathers was covered in layers of frigid frost. He did not know how much time passed.
Like a statue.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t thought of going down the cliff range, killing all those people in Yichun Courtyard till no one was left. It wasn’t like he hadn’t thought of going down and bringing back Yang Lianting and asking him to clarify. It wasn’t like he hadn’t any grievances, his heart felt neither calm nor even-tempered.
Pffft–
Dongfang Bubai spat out another mouthful of blood, his body trembled violently, then wiped away the blood stain at the corner of his mouth. At this moment, his face that was originally unlike a mortal’s but as pure and insightful as an immortal’s, was now unbelievably dark and gloomy. Dongfang Bubai, who had never feared anyone or anything in life, at this moment, despite it only being one trip down the cliff, could not take a single step forward no matter what.
If by any chance I wrongly accuse Lian di what’ll Lian di do?
If by any chance Lian di really thinks those women of Yichun Courtyard are better than me… what’ll I do?
To Dongfang Bubai time passed slowly, endlessly slowly, as if he had gone into seclusion, as if several years had passed. His body turned cooler and colder, his pair of eyes turned dimmer and duller until they lost their light.
Looking on as the night deepened, Yang Lianting creased his brows unable to hold back the faint worry in his heart.
Did Dongfang come out of seclusion already? Did he have a proper meal already? Did those maids tell him that I went down the cliff? It was so late, will or will he not wait for me?
In the room, orioles and swallows[13] accompanied these guards, who had waded down the cliff with difficulty, to drink wine and play around. Yang Lianting looked at them then thought back to the days his past self had loitered in these places all day long. In his heart, it felt like a matter of a lifetime ago. These guards were rouges, yet spent their time on Blackwood Cliff trembling in fear and trepidation. Yang Lianting certainly didn’t mean to dampen the others’ rising spirits.
Picking up the cup with both hands and downing the fragrant wine in one gulp, he then opened his mouth to talk to Wang Shi, “Elder Brother Wang, you all can enjoy yourselves to the fullest. Today’s expenses are all on me, I’ll go up Blackwood Cliff first.”
As soon as he spoke, Wang Shi grabbed hold of him and said in a rough tone, “Brother Yang, you can’t leave yet.”
“Did I, this Brother, not take good care of you? Brother Yang, if you’re dissatisfied about anything, don’t hesitate to speak up.”
“I, Wang Shi–”
Before he finished speaking, Yang Lianting interrupted him. “Elder Brother Wang you’ve misunderstood, I truly don’t intend to dampen Brothers’ spirits. Besides, it’s already getting late and I guess it’s about time the Cult Master emerges out of seclusion. I ought to return and give my completion report,[14] or else if by any chance I offend the Cult Master and make him unhappy, it would not be good.”
The instant he mentioned the Cult Master, even though Wang Shi felt tipsy after drinking wine, his complexion could not help but change completely. He did not dare to say another word and did not prevent Yang Lianting from leaving.
In Yichun Courtyard, the fragrance of those women’s powder was everywhere, when Yang Lianting left the building he could not help but knit his brows. In his past life, his favorite smell had been exactly this kind of fragrance. Now, it smelled so pungent, perhaps… the reason why he had exceedingly liked this kind of place in his past life, was not because he truly liked it but because he madly… wanted to shirk from him.
Walking out of Yichun Courtyard, the winds outside blew by, the discomforting smell on his body faded faintly and the wine’s aftereffect faded too. His sight fell on the things he carried in his hands and the expression in his eyes gradually became gentle.
His heart was set on returning home as swift as an arrow.[15]
Dongfang Bubai’s eyesight was exceptional, from a distance, he could see Yang Lianting’s figure coming up the cliffside. He looked like he had some joyful occasion,[16] his appearance was not nearly as steady and restrained as usual. Dongfang Bubai did not know what he was thinking about, the look in his eyes was gentle and tender, the corners of his mouth were curved into a smile.
It was now the Hour of the Pig,[17] Dongfang Bubai had silently stood on Blackwood Cliff for many hours already.
He felt really cold.
From a distance, he watched Yang Lianting walk toward him, step by step. His Lian di, with starry eyes and sword-like brows,[18] a man so handsome he did not seem to be from the mortal realm, was walking straight towards him like this, step by step.
He stood in place, his face as pallid as paper, blood rising up his throat, yet he bit his lip and in the end he still walked towards Yang Lianting.
“Dongfang, why’re you here?” Raising his head and noticing Dongfang Bubai, Yang Lianting’s heart was overjoyed. He took a step forward to hold onto his hand out of habit, yet the moment he touched his hand, he felt that his palm was chilled to the bone, saw that his complexion was deathly pale.
“Were you waiting for me here?” Based on his understanding of Dongfang Bubai, he instantly figured out the cause and effect, he creased his brows and his voice deepened. He took Dongfang Bubai’s hands into his own without even thinking, he held them in front of him, breathed on them and rubbed them to warm them up. In fact, Yang Lianting’s actions were really clumsy.
Dongfang Bubai had never been treated like this. He silently stood still and watched Yang Lianting anxiously care about him. He lightly pursed his lips, after a while he pulled his lips into an ugly smile. He thought about telling him that actually there was no need for this.
I am the Invincible East, my martial arts are the world’s first, my internal energy in matchlessly profound, why would it matter to me if I’m blown by the wind? Even if my clothes are soaking wet, as long as I make a move they’ll instantly be nice and warm.
But Lian di, look how foolish I am.
I clearly know you just came out of a brothel, I clearly smell the heavy scent of powder on your body, I clearly know… all of this may merely be my wishful thinking.[19]
Perhaps, by speaking clearly I’ll know.
This may merely be a stage you set up with the utmost care to swindle me. Lian di, I am so paranoid that I want you to continue deceiving me.