25 Turn Back

Early that morning, Jun Xiao and Qingyi were about to leave the inn when they encountered Gu Qianrun.

“Where do you intend to take her?” Gu Qianrun asked.

Jun Xiao frowned, pressing his lips together as he pulled Qingyi along. Qingyi’s martial arts had been sealed by Jun Xiao, leaving her with little room to resist. As they neared Gu Qianrun, he suddenly raised his hand to block their path.

“Where do you intend to take her?” Gu Qianrun repeated, causing a tense standoff. Dawn was approaching, and Jun Xiao replied coldly, “How is this any concern of yours, Mr. Gu?”

“Concern of mine?” Gu Qianrun scoffed. “Not much, perhaps. But news of the assassination of the King of Shu has already spread, and the border conflict between Shu and Que is changing rapidly. The capital is in chaos. The Junzi Hall has dispatched men to search for you. If you continue to take her with you, do you mean for her to return and confess to the crime of regicide and treason?”

Jun Xiao’s hostility faded, but the struggle and pain within him remained undiminished.

Gu Qianrun continued, “At this time, Master Jun is not suited to take her with him.”

Jun Xiao said nothing, only tightening his grip on Qingyi’s wrist, causing her to furrow her brows.

“Shu is on the verge of collapse, and everyone knows it won’t be long before it’s annexed by Que. Your younger brother has been summoned back, and Master Jun should hurry as well. As for Qingyi, I will take her into hiding for some time. When the turmoil subsides, I’ll bring her back.”

Jun Xiao finally responded, “Your offer is rare, Mr. Gu, but why should I trust you? I have no intention of letting her leave my side again.”

Gu Qianrun’s expression remained cold, unaffected by Jun Xiao’s words. Instead, Qingyi tugged at Jun Xiao’s sleeve and whispered, “I trust him.”

Jun Xiao looked back at her in surprise. Qingyi met his gaze and spoke softly, “I trust him… Before I met you, he was the only person I trusted.”

“Alright… Alright, since it’s what you want, I’ll let you go with him.” Jun Xiao struggled for a moment before finally releasing Qingyi’s hand, watching helplessly as Gu Qianrun led her away. He lingered in the morning mist for a while, until his brows and lashes were damp with dew, then set off along the main road to return.

On the way back, Jun Xiao barely rested, exhausting Mingyue who followed behind. Unable to go on, she asked Qin Shi to ride, and nestled in his arms, fell asleep. Upon returning to Junzi Hall, Jun Xiao was dejected, and Mingyue and Qin Shi were equally worn out.

Jun Xiao did not see Jun Yi upon his return. After inquiring, he learned Jun Yi had left for the capital overnight with several others to search for him. After paying respects to the elders, Jun Xiao returned to his courtyard to wash and rest.

Mingyue stood in the yard, not following inside for the first time. She had heard the elders speak: Shu was retreating step by step, Que’s army was pressing into the inner city. After several crushing defeats, Shu’s soldiers had suffered heavy casualties, leaving no strength to resist. The disciples Jun Yi took with him were all killed in a single battle; even Jun Yi was gravely wounded.

The vast territories of Shu were gradually being absorbed into Que’s domain.

Mingyue stared at the tightly closed wooden door and asked, “Do you think Jun Xiao will regret this someday?”

There was no reply for a long time. Mingyue turned to look; Qin Shi, supporting his chin with one hand, had already fallen asleep. His lean frame seemed thinner, and his features appeared sharper. Suddenly, a lock of hair fell, covering his left eye and shielding him from Mingyue’s unrestrained gaze.

A few days later, Jun Yi returned. That day, Jun Xiao sat alone on a stone bench in the courtyard when Jun Yi rushed in. Without pause, he seized Jun Xiao by the collar and dragged him up from the bench.

“Brother, why?”

Jun Xiao shook off Jun Yi and turned away.

Jun Yi shouted, “Tell me why! Is it just for that woman? You’ve always protected Junzi Hall and its disciples, but now you turn your sword against your own for her! And she’s a traitor, a regicidal criminal! Brother, tell me why!”

Jun Xiao did not answer, only closed his eyes slightly where Jun Yi could not see. Mingyue noticed him crushing the jade pendant at his waist—the one he had snatched from Qingyi.

After his outburst, Jun Yi left and moved out of Junzi Hall that very day, settling in a newly purchased residence in town.

So, that was the reason he left Junzi Hall, Mingyue silently recited. Jun Xiao never spoke of how Jun Yi discovered the disciples had died by his hand, and Mingyue cared little to investigate. By now, Mingyue understood neither Jun Xiao nor Qingyi. This story, unfortunately, was entangled in national hatred and personal grudges, destined for little happiness. For Mingyue, the curiosity she felt upon first arriving at Junzi Hall had worn away, and the heaviness of this place was beyond her comprehension and endurance.

Gu Qianrun and Qingyi did not reappear.

Following the elders’ advice, Jun Xiao ceased involvement in the conflict between the two nations, focusing instead on building up the sect. Yet, in times like these, how could there be many strong youths left for them? Even the original disciples were summoned to join the army.

Over the next half year, the royal kin acting as regent of Shu led a large force to the capital to kneel and pledge allegiance to the Que Emperor.

Mingyue did not witness it herself, but she heard bits and pieces. She heard that on that day, the Que Emperor, clad in silver armor, arrived at the capital with hundreds of thousands behind him. The sky over the city darkened under the massed troops. The royal family of Shu, dressed in coarse robes, led the ministers on foot to the city gates, trembling as they offered up the seal.

Hearing this, Mingyue could not help but smile lightly; she knew the seal must be a fake, the real one having long since been seized by the Que Emperor.

At that moment, the Que Emperor did not speak, but had his adjutant receive the seal. Then, raising his long spear, he pointed it to the sky. The army behind him all knelt, shouting in unison, “Long live the Emperor!”

The thunderous acclaim shook the heavens, and those who had come to submit fell to their knees, bowing to the sole man still mounted. The Que Emperor did not linger; after renaming Shu as Shu Prefecture, he withdrew most of his troops, leaving only new officials and some soldiers to guard against unrest. The people of Shu responded calmly, celebrating the end of war only briefly before resuming their simple lives.

Junzi Hall, renowned for aiding the people, had accumulated considerable prestige and was now regarded as the leading righteous sect in the southwest. As its master, Jun Xiao was never seen to smile again, becoming grave and silent. In contrast, Jun Yi, who had moved out, lived more freely; his once pure and bright smile now carried the mischievous charm that had once belonged to Jun Xiao.

It was then that Mingyue realized the brothers’ smiles were not truly alike; Jun Yi had deliberately imitated Jun Xiao’s old manner. Whether it was a silent protest against Jun Xiao’s killing of his own or a form of punishment, she could not tell.

Just as peace returned to Shu, word spread in town that the master of Ancient Painting Studio had returned with his wife.

Upon hearing the rumor, Jun Xiao rushed out, but stopped short of the door, waiting until nightfall before quietly leaving Junzi Hall. He walked slowly, arriving at Ancient Painting Studio near midnight.

Under the cold moonlight, a figure in white, brows arched in worry, face as beautiful as a lotus in spring.

Jun Xiao stopped and gazed at her, as if wanting to etch her features into his very bones.

Qingyi looked up and walked toward him, a faint smile blooming on her lips. She asked, “Do you still want me?”

Jun Xiao bowed his head, giving no reply for a long time. Only when Qingyi’s smile faded did he suddenly reach out, pulling her tightly into his arms. Qingyi frowned slightly, then returned his embrace.

“Master Jun, I have fulfilled my promise and brought her back. Please take good care of her, and don’t give me another chance to take her away,” Gu Qianrun’s cool voice sounded from the end of the bamboo bridge. With that, he turned and entered the house.

Jun Xiao smiled, though the expression felt stiff from disuse. He took Qingyi’s hand and led her slowly toward Junzi Hall. The hour was late, and the streets were empty, so there was no fear of exposing her. Halfway there, Qingyi suddenly said, “Jun Xiao, why don’t we just live like this?”

Jun Xiao paused, then spoke softly after a long while, “But I want to give you a title.”

“Jun Xiao, you cannot,” Qingyi said, wrapping her arms around his and leaning on his shoulder. “You should understand this. Fortunately, I don’t care, and you should be grateful for that. Of course, if one day being with you becomes more painful than joyful, I’ll leave.”

Her tone was light. Jun Xiao frowned but did not argue, simply patting her hand resting on his arm.

Jun Xiao brought Qingyi back to his courtyard, but strangely, none of the elders questioned them, except for Jun Yi, who visited once. At a glance of Qingyi emerging, Jun Yi frowned, but instantly masked his expression, snapping open his folding fan and grinning, “So this is the woman my brother has chosen?”

Jun Xiao shielded Qingyi behind him, earning a light laugh from Jun Yi.

“What’s wrong, brother? Are you so uneasy? Worried I might steal your beauty away? Don’t worry, as long as she’s in Junzi Hall, I won’t oppose you. As your brother, I only hope you can live a little happier.” Jun Yi smiled behind his fan, his eyes shining like stars.

Yet Mingyue felt something was off about his words, though she could not say exactly what.