At this moment, Tong Baixiong’s booming voice resounded.
“Cult Master, Chief Steward Yang!”
“Ren Yingying’s been caught!”
Dim, dark, damp.
Yang Lianting walked into the ice-cold dungeon, his state of mind indescribably serene. Step by step, he slowly walked to the dungeon cell where Ren Yingying was being held.
Illuminated by the light of the torches, he saw the cult’s Holy Maiden, who had initially been aloof and remote, now cut a sorry figure. Disheveled black hair, body covered in wounds, even her face had dark grey traces, and her hands and feet were all tied up with iron chains. Seeing him come over, Ren Yingying instantly sat up straight, tenaciously gritted her teeth, and waited for him.
“Yang Lianting, you dog thief didn’t die!”
“How could I die without killing you?” Yang Lianting loudly laughed, then glanced at the guard standing aside and instructed, “Open the cell door.”
Hearing his order, the guard bowed and quickly unlocked the cell door. His actions were respectful and reverent towards Yang Lianting, his intention to curry favor obvious. The guard looked down on Ren Yingying, his expression one of utter disgust as he cautioned, “Chief Steward Yang must take heed, she is a vicious and cruel woman. Before, when a brother brought the daily bowl of rice, she sneakily seized the chance to smash his head in.”
“Whoever dares to oppose the Cult Master must die!”
“Chief Steward Yang, just head in, this Lowly One[1] will guard outside.” Smiling flatteringly, he bowed again and made way.
Standing in the dim dungeon cell and staring at Ren Yingying Yang Lianting breathed a sigh of relief, “Finally.”
“Killing you, is a load off my mind and lets me rest assured.”
“Yang Lianting, who allowed you to kill me?” Ren Yingying stood up from the ground. Her chest rose and fell in fury and her eyes stared fixatedly at Yang Lianting. She opened her mouth to yell, her every word seething with hatred, “I am the Holy Maiden of the Sun Moon Holy Cult, you are merely a lowly guard. In no way are you qualified to take action against me!”
“I want to see Uncle Dongfang, call Uncle Dongfang over!”
“Shut up!” The guard standing before the cell took the chance to curry favor with Yang Lianting. Hearing her entitled attitude, he swiftly shouted with a stern face, “How can a traitor like you make demands on Chief Steward Yang?”
“Chief Steward?” Hearing this address, briefly Ren Yingying was stunned still then suddenly laughed out loud. She walked in front of Yang Lianting and smiled thinly. “Yang Lianting you’re amazing, climbing up to the position of chief steward, ah.”
“Dongfang Bubai is blinded by love! For you, a lowly villain, he would even dig out his own heart.” Ren Yingying approached Yang Lianting, stared at him and sneered, “Who are you really? First you plotted to kill my father, now you came to kill me. The insignificant handyman who greedily sought wealth and women, now turned over a new leaf, turned into a good man who is truly infatuated with Dongfang Bubai.” Ren Yingying laughed loudly and looked at him with a knowing glint in her eyes, “Rather than men, you actually prefer women.” Ren Yingying halted her steps half a cun away from Yang Lianting, her voice sounded light yet the look in her dark eyes chilled him to the bone. “I and you are actually the same type of person, aren’t we? A seven-chi tall man acting submissively and shamelessly to ingratiate himself with Dongfang Bubai. What’s your purpose in approaching him?”
“You’re just like me–”
“I and Dongfang Bubai are foes that can never live under the same sky.[2] Every day I docilely and quietly endured, I even called him ‘Uncle Dongfang.’” Ren Yingying smiled softly, if it weren’t for her wretched and haggard appearance, their two figures standing side by side would’ve seemed like an awfully ambiguous scene between a gifted scholar and a beautiful maiden.[3]
“My poor Uncle Dongfang–”
“I deceived him, you deceived him.”
“It’s just that your schemes are superior to mine.” As if dying of laughter, Ren Yingying tilted forward and backward laughing loudly. She held her stomach and tears burst out of her red eyes, “Dongfang Bubai’s heart is as cold and unfeeling as ice, he never truly trusted me, yet he’s fond of you.”
“The Invincible East, a generational hero–” Leaning forward, Ren Yingying smiled dismissively and spoke in a low voice only the two of them could hear. “I sent my men to shadow Dongfang Bubai’s every move before and they saw him draw his eyebrows for you, saw him sew clothes for you. The martial artist titled the world’s first, the high and mighty Invincible East, didn’t just fall in love with a man– Unexpectedly, he’s willing to submit to you like a woman! Isn’t that the biggest joke in the world–”
The words still audible.
Yang Lianting reached out and gripped Ren Yingying’s neck, before she could continue. His strength had only been moderate, yet at this very moment the boiling rage and fury he felt lent him astonishing strength. Ren Yingying was caught off guard, unable to resist her neck was firmly strangled and her whole body lifted into the air. Unable to breathe, her bloodshot eyes bulged out of their sockets and her mouth opened and closed without a sound.
Yang Lianting laughed loudly.
“Do you have any idea how much I want to kill you?”
In their past life, she broke Dongfang’s heart by insulting him as an ‘old twisted monster,’ disrupted Dongfang’s concentration by cruelly laying a hand on the one he loved, and caused him to suffer Ren Woxing and Linghu Chong’s fatal sword strikes.
Compared to Ren Woxing, the person Yang Lianting wanted to kill the most was Ren Yingying. He had never encountered a woman this vicious, never hated a woman this much.
He took a deep breath, deepened his smile, lowered his voice, and said solemnly, “There’s no need to say these things to mess up my mind. Before, you cruelly tortured me and conspired with Xiang Wentian to harm Dongfang. Ren Yingying, guess how I’ll deal with you.”
Strangling her neck with one hand, Yang Lianting took out a packet of powder from the crease of his clothes with the other. Before Ren Yingying’s horrified eyes, he opened the small paper packet and directly poured the powder into her open mouth.
Once he loosened his grip and let go of her neck, he watched Ren Yingying fall to the cold ground and lie at his feet. Thrown into a panic, her face drained of all color and she frantically tried to vomit the poison he had poured down her throat. Losing her head over fear, the look in her eyes frenzied.
“Before, you told Zuo Lengchan to poison me.”
“Now, I’m only paying you back.”
“Yang Lianting, if you want to kill me, if you want me to die by a thousand cuts,[4] come at me directly! What’d you poison me with, what’d you poison me with!” In the end Ren Yingying was merely a lone woman. No matter how calculating, no matter how devious, before her imminent death at this moment she could not help but to lose control over herself and fall into panic. Eyes red, so angered that they seemed about to pop out, she staggered and stumbled forward to clutch the hem of Yang Lianting’s clothes, “Yang Lianting, you dog thief! Let Uncle Dongfang see me!”
“This poison was compounded by Ping Yizhi himself.” Yang Lianting stood still and explained in a calm and cold voice, “It’s called the Seven Day Sever Intestine Powder.”[5]
“Holy Maiden, have you heard of it?”
“You’ve done so many great things, how could I be willing to let you off lightly?” Yang Lianting lowered his head and held Ren Yingying’s neck, he suppressed all the emotions surging up violently from the serene and hidden depth of his heart. His tone was gloomy and terrifying, “Over the next seven days, you’ll be overwhelmed by torturous pain to the extent that you’d wish you were dead.”
Yang Lianting laughed out loud, “Retribution?” He raised his foot and kicked Ren Yingying’s body. Hearing the woman groan in pain on the ground, he turned around and left the cell without a change in expression. As the heavy cell door closed behind his back and Ren Yingying’s pained curses resounded, the smile on his face deepened and his eyes narrowed.
Retribution.
Why would I receive retribution?
In his past life, Ren Yingying’s torture had killed Dongfang, had caused their heads to collide and brains to burst, caused them both to die without whole bodies.
In this life– He merely returned the favor, what Ren Yingying had done to them back then, he did to her now.
“Keep an eye on her.” Yang Lianting glanced at the shivering guard who was too scared to speak “Report to me once she died.”
“Yes, yes, yes. Chief Steward Yang, this Subordinate… this Subordinate heeds the order.” The guard that had flattered Yang Lianting, now stared at him with wide eyes. After witnessing his cruel means to deal with the one named Ren Yingying, he could not help but be intimidated. Facing the terrifying man in front of him, his head was lowered until he could not lower it any further and his back was drenched in cold sweat. Fearing his words and actions would offend him, he tried to keep a low profile so as to not be killed off on a whim.
“Lian di.”
An aloof voice echoed in the dungeon, the guard with lowered head didn’t react for a while and couldn’t help but mutter, Who’s Little Brother Lotus?[6] Once he looked up, he noticed the Invincible East dressed entirely in vibrant red. His hair stood on end, with a thud the guard immediately fell to his knees and tremblingly said, “Greetings to the Cult Master–”
“Dongfang, why’d you come over?” Yang Lianting furrowed his eyebrows and took a step forward, “Sobered up?” He grasped Dongfang Bubai’s hand and his eyebrows creased deeply, “Your hands are ice cold!”
“Ren Yingying has been caught?” Dongfang Bubai questioned, as he glanced at the cell not too far away.
“Oh, I just gave her something to eat.” Yang Lianting replied without a change in expression and directly looked at Dongfang Bubai, his voice sounded mellow. “Let’s head back, it’s freezing here. You must be hungry, how about I prepare a few dishes for you? Is your stomach alright after drinking so much alcohol?”
Dongfang Bubai breathed out a light sigh, pursed his lips, and said, “Lian di, why bother to take care of her yourself, that monk warned before–”
“Dongfang.”
Yang Lianting looked at him, neither avoiding nor fearing to meet Dongfang Bubai’s eyes. The look in his eyes was calm and peaceful. “That monk’s words don’t count, you needn’t worry.”
“…” Dongfang Bubai’s eyes flickered for an instant. Staying silent for some time, he then raised his head and looked at Yang Lianting. He hesitantly asked him, “Why… why do you know?”
“I must’ve said something, while I was drunk…”
“Lian di…”
“I already ordered the Dark Guard to capture that charlatan.” Yang Lianting lifted an eyebrow, “How could I let him continue to talk you into believing that nonsense.”
“The one thousand tales’ worth of joss sticks I gave him back then–” Yang Lianting snorted scornfully, then tenderly tightened his hold around Dongfang Bubai’s cold hand and walked outside side by side. “I want him to take a good look and see for himself, if the two of us will stay safe and sound, will grow old together.”
The guard watched the two men walk out of the dungeon, his mouth agape in utter shock. Who doesn’t know how decisive and murderous the Cult Master is, yet in front of Chief Steward Yang he’s this tender and amiable?
“Hey, hey–” The guard chuckled complacently, “I, this Young Master, can show off to the others now. I saw the Cult Master and Guard Yang’s loving affection with my own eyes, hey!”
“Your means are too excessive, too vicious–” Tong Baixiong stood at the entrance to the small kitchen, frowned and furrowed his eyebrows as he criticized in a deep voice. “The Holy Maiden is certainly guilty of armed rebellion against the Cult Master, but you could’ve directly killed her why bother to torture a woman?”
As if he had not heard him speak, Yang Lianting’s hands kept moving. He rinsed the white rice and chopped the vegetables for the congee he carefully prepared. Only after he was nearly done cooking, did he wash his hands and turn his head to look at Tong Baixiong who waited for his reply. “I’m excessive, I’m vicious? If Dongfang and I were defeated, how’d Ren Yingying deal with us? I’m afraid that compared to my current means, hers won’t be outdone.” Yang Lianting raised his head and looked at the bright blue sky outside the window and smiled softly.
“Elder Tong, that’s the end of the matter, saying any more is meaningless.”
Tong Baixiong furrowed his brows, he was originally a rough and rude rouge with a straightforward nature, naturally he could not stand Yang Lianting’s methods yet neither could he condone his actions. He chocked and felt his qi surge and face flush bright red. For a while, he did not know what to say.
Yang Lianting did not care at all. His lips were curved up into a soft smile as he pointed to the congee he had stewed over the hearth and said, “Dongfang drank too much alcohol and now his stomach feels uncomfortable. I cooked too much congee for him. Elder Tong, would you like to have a meal with us?”
Tong Baixiong hated exactly this manner of Yang Lianting’s the most. He glared at him, wanted to turn around and leave, but in the end he snorted and nodded in agreement.
Yang Lianting raised a brow and could not avoid grinning.
Deep into the night.
The wind blew heavily atop Blackwood Cliff.
Yang Lianting carried the pot of scathing hot congee towards the courtyard while Tong Baixiong followed closely behind. The white congee’s clouds of steam rose into the sky, Yang Lianting saw Dongfang Bubai’s figure through their layers of white mist. He was sitting in the center of a pavilion, his face looked delicate and detached, fair and beautiful.
Like an immortal banished from the heavens.
Like a fleeting dream.
Softly smiling, he could not help but speed up his pace.
Ren Woxing was dead, and for both Ren Yingying and Xiang Wentian death was imminent. Except for Linghu Chong, all who had harmed Dongfang and him a lifetime ago, had paid the price for their actions.
His anxious heart finally felt at peace.
Yang Lianting sat down and filled a bowl of steaming congee for Dongfang Bubai then looked up to Tong Baixiong who stood outside the pavilion. “Elder Tong, no need to be polite. Let’s eat, let’s eat!” Yang Lianting repeatedly called out to the hesitant and courteous Tong Baixiong.
Naturally, Tong Baixiong was reserved in words and actions. In recent years, he had never eaten at the same table as Dongfang Bubai. Feeling faintly nervous, he respectfully saluted him with a red face. “Cult Master, forgive this Subordinate… forgive this Subordinate for his impropriety…”
“Elder Brother Tong, no need to be polite.” Dongfang Bubai threw a glance at Yang Lianting and guessed the likely intention in his heart. In a mild manner he lightly chuckled and kindly said to Tong Baixiong, “As Lian di’s said, let’s eat together.”
Tong Baixiong swallowed dryly, his facial expression looked awkward and at a loss. After a while, he heavily sat down beside Yang Lianting and said, “Many thanks, Brother Yang!”
“Dongfang, have a taste.”
“Dongfang, I’ll feed you.”
“Dongfang, you’re too thin, eat a few more bites.”
“…”
One meal, three people.
Dongfang Bubai had always been cold and alienating, while Tong Baixiong had turned reverent and reticent. Throughout the meal, only Yang Lianting kept on talking, picking out vegetables and pouring water. He acted as though no one else were present, showing off the unique intimacy between himself and Dongfang Bubai. He did not avoid any taboo despite Tong Baixiong being present. From beginning to end Tong Baixiong’s expression was a sight to behold. Unexpectedly, he did not say half a word more until the torturous meal was entirely eaten. Only after rising from his seat and saying goodbye to Dongfang Bubai, did he furiously glare at Yang Lianting.
“Yang Lianting, you kid sure are attentively waiting upon the Cult Master.” Having spoken, he harrumphed and left as angrily and thunderously as torrential rain.
Looking at his back Yang Lianting laughed out loud.
Seeing him in such a great mood, Dongfang Bubai shook his head lightly and his lips could not help but to curve upwards into a soft smile. “Lian di, why did you ask Elder Tong to eat together with us?”
“I wanted him to see the love between us with his own eyes.” Yang Lianting stood up and carefully draped his outer robe over his shoulders. “Tong Baixiong may be stupid and impulsive, but he’s sincerely loyal to you and he’s the first person atop the cliff who accepted us being together.”
“Dongfang.”
“Not only him.”
“It doesn’t matter if they don’t accept us and it doesn’t matter if they criticize or curse us.” Yang Lianting raised his eyebrows, laughing nonchalantly.
Now that the enmity from a lifetime ago was resolved he truly wanted to give all his affection to the one he cherished the most for the remainder of his life. He wanted, with neither the slightest worry nor scruple, use his lifetime to treat Dongfang Bubai well.
Yang Lianting held onto Dongfang Bubai’s hands and kissed him tenderly. He then knelt on the ground, took off his shoes and socks, and turned his back to him.[7]