Chapter 71: The Old Azure Robe (Part Two)

Yun Qing was slightly surprised, but could only offer a gentle smile to Jun Xiao. Yet he showed little expression, only a faint furrow of his brows, clearly growing impatient. The atmosphere grew tense; Yun Qing dared not reveal her identity as Ming Yue, and Gu Qian, who had never gotten along with the Jun brothers, fell silent as well.

Secretly, Yun Qing studied Jun Xiao, noticing that even the trace of warmth he once had was gone. She understood that with the fading of his feelings, his last softness had disappeared as well. Jun Xiao had been raised by the elders of the Jun family, and his notions of right and wrong were not far from theirs. Before, his affection for Qing Yi had made him hesitant, even willing to raise his hand against the righteous. Now, with that love gone, he returned to his true nature—no, it was even harsher.

He truly was a man without feeling.

Yun Qing swept her sleeves and rose, bidding farewell to Jun Xiao and Jun Yi. Gu Qian followed, and once they left the Jun residence, he asked, “Why did you leave so quickly?”

“If we meet as strangers, why linger? Besides, I’ve seen enough for now—the rest can wait until Qing Yi appears.”

“How do you know Yan Rong will show up?”

Yun Qing glanced back, seeing the astonishment in Gu Qian’s eyes, and replied, “You said yourself that the conflict between the Southern Witchcraft and the Junzi Hall is reaching its peak—surely a major confrontation is imminent. And now that Ah Yuan is connected with the witchcraft disciples, how could Qing Yi, the witch maiden, not appear herself?”

“Do you plan to simply observe?”

Yun Qing smiled. “Now that my immortal body is restored, I must make good use of it. Star Lord, there’s no need to follow; I won’t return to Qingdu for now, so please convey this for me.”

“If the Divine Lord does not return, how could I leave alone?”

Seeing that Gu Qian truly had no intention of departing, Yun Qing let her smile fade. Though her soul lamp was gone, she could still easily deal with a minor Star Lord. She raised her hand and tapped Gu Qian’s shoulder. “Star Lord, though I am lacking, I can still send you away. Better to return to the heavens and assist the Divine Lord Wu Shang.”

Once she confirmed Gu Qian was immobilized, Yun Qing walked several steps forward, stopping near the mouth of an alley. Then, in a flash, her form dissolved, a thousand shimmering lights dispersing like mist, leaving no trace.

Walking in the rear mountains of Junzi Hall, Yun Qing used a minor spell to mask her presence and form. This would fool mortals and Gu Qian, but not the one who had been tailing her all along. She paused halfway up the mountain and said, “Your Highness Ninth, how long do you intend to follow?”

Cool fingertips brushed aside the hair on her brow; startled, Yun Qing retreated, and saw Fei Ling appear before her.

He said, “Until you’re willing to face me.”

Yun Qing pursed her lips, bypassed Fei Ling, and continued onward. Only when some distance was between them did she say, “That may take some time, Your Highness—perhaps you should wait a while before following again.”

The aura behind her faded slightly, but did not disappear. Irritated, Yun Qing fell silent and continued forward, unwilling to entangle herself further. After about half a stick of incense, she finally stopped. Sure enough, several familiar-looking men were lurking in the rear mountain, though the masked woman in white was not among them.

Yun Qing leapt into the air, conjured a seat with a gesture, and sat, surveying the scene below.

More people gathered below, carefully arranging something, moving with extreme caution to avoid making a sound. That night, Jun Xiao returned to Junzi Hall from Jun Yi, but nothing much happened.

Recalling Jun Yi’s always slightly wicked smile, Yun Qing suddenly felt a trace of disgust. She had always underestimated this man, who was only slightly younger than Jun Xiao. Though Jun Yi held no important position in Junzi Hall, he was more trusted by the elders and had considerable esteem among the disciples, even a reputation outside. Once, women had joined Junzi Hall for his sake. Earlier, when Jun Xiao had eliminated several Junzi Hall disciples in the Shu Kingdom palace for Qing Yi, Jun Yi knew about it—though no one else did—and had used this knowledge to pressure Jun Xiao, pushing him to his current predicament.

Even sending Qing Yi away was Jun Yi’s doing.

Yun Qing wondered if Jun Yi had always known Ah Yuan’s true identity. But what did Jun Yi truly want? If he sought the position of Hall Master, Jun Xiao would gladly step aside if asked—but that didn’t seem likely. Yun Qing shook her head, discarding the thought.

At midnight, a sudden glow appeared at the foot of the mountain.

Yun Qing shifted her form and saw two people, one leading the other, walking up the mountain path toward Junzi Hall. The one behind was a masked woman in white, her features as pure and clean as Yun Qing remembered.

Thus Yun Qing followed silently overhead, until Qing Yi and her companion merged with the larger group. She returned to her seat in the sky, only to find several fruits placed there—her favorites from when she was Ming Yue. Yun Qing smiled, raising her hand to brush them off, but changed her mind at the last moment, cradling the fruit and chewing as she awaited the drama below.

Fortunately, she did not have to wait long. At dawn, Qing Yi led a group of witchcraft disciples and charged through the rear gate of Junzi Hall. But the Junzi Hall disciples, thought to be sleeping, seemed well prepared; as soon as the intruders entered, they sprang out.

Yun Qing saw Qing Yi whisper a few words into a man's ear, then venture alone through the melee toward the interior. Whenever a disciple tried to block her, Qing Yi would flick her fingers, sending pills, silver needles, or other items that kept them at bay, clearing her way to the center of Junzi Hall. Clearly, though Qing Yi had lost her memories, her martial skills remained undiminished—if anything, she now used more of the witchcraft techniques.

Passing through a bamboo grove, Qing Yi halted.

Yun Qing looked ahead and saw, not far away, a pavilion by the water, where a man in black stood. He was tall, his back to Qing Yi, black hair and clothes, only a white jade hairpin breaking the darkness. The man turned—it was Jun Xiao, without doubt.

Qing Yi stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Master Jun, over these years you’ve killed five or six hundred of my witchcraft disciples. It’s time we settle this account.”

“I was thinking the same.”

The two stood, tense and silent. Then, in the blink of an eye, Jun Xiao sprang from the pavilion, flying across the lakeside to the opposite bank. Qing Yi followed, silver needles wrapped in snowy silk darting from her sleeves. They fought atop the bamboo grove. Jun Xiao fought barehanded, gaining the advantage in close combat; Qing Yi, aided by her snow silk, kept her distance and controlled the fight from afar. For a time, Qing Yi pressed Jun Xiao back, dominating the exchange.

Soon, disciples from Junzi Hall arrived, led by Jun Yi. Jun Yi tossed Jun Xiao’s sword toward him, and after Jun Xiao caught it, Jun Yi moved to assist. But suddenly, screams erupted from behind, and Jun Yi turned to see Ah Yuan, once a clean and obedient youth, now licking blood from his sword, his eyes glowing red with a demonic light.

Though Gu Qian had spoken of Ah Yuan’s identity, Yun Qing was seeing him like this for the first time and was stunned—Jun Yi seemed equally so. When only a few disciples remained, Jun Yi finally reacted, raising his sword to attack Ah Yuan, only to be intercepted by witchcraft disciples.

Ah Yuan laughed softly. “Second Master, thank you for your care all these years. Allow me to repay you now.” With that, he swung his sword sideways, unhesitatingly piercing the chest of a disciple in blue and white.

Yun Qing sighed, then looked back to Qing Yi and Jun Xiao. With a weapon in hand, Jun Xiao handled Qing Yi’s snow silk with far less difficulty. Yun Qing was surprised; she had seen Jun Xiao’s swordplay before, and it was indeed exquisite. Qing Yi’s skills were not low, but never matched Jun Xiao’s—yet now she could rival him.

The two moved from the bamboo grove to the training ground where the disciples practiced swordsmanship. Jun Xiao landed on one foot, spun, and Qing Yi sidestepped, the blade barely grazing her cheek, but the force of the sword wind whipped away her veil.

A once peerless beauty, still capable of awe.

Once united, now they gazed at each other with nothing but estrangement.

Jun Yi, seeing Qing Yi’s face, glared with fury, as if wishing to devour her whole. “Wretch! Had I known this day would come, I would have killed you with a single stroke!”

He charged at Qing Yi, sword raised, but was intercepted by Ah Yuan.

“Second Master, don’t be rash—Ah Yuan is still here.”

As Jun Yi and Ah Yuan argued and acted, Qing Yi and Jun Xiao seemed not to hear or see, locked in their mutual gaze. The sword sang, snow silk danced, yet neither moved. After a long moment, in a sudden instant, Jun Xiao’s sword flashed forward, his body taut as a blade. Qing Yi’s snow silk abandoned its softness and shot out, winding around Jun Xiao’s sword.

Jun Xiao twisted his wrist, severing the silk; his blade, unobstructed, thrust toward the delicate figure.

Qing Yi’s hand did not retreat; using Jun Xiao’s momentum, she sent another white ribbon from her sleeve.

Cloth tore, the sword entered the belly, the white ribbon pierced the chest.

Jun Xiao’s brows knotted, confusion clouding his gaze. He released the sword, gently touched Qing Yi’s cheek, and murmured, “I still remember you…why is that?”