“You were too scary that day,” Yuchi Rui said, gripping his fishing rod intently and monitoring the buoy in floated on the water.

In the pond outside the Correctional Palace, Gong Wei took off his shoes and was sitting barefoot and cross-legged on a moss-covered rock. He was also holding a fishing rod with one hand while the other was propping his cheek. Gong Wei lazily replied, “I was avenging you and Shixiong. Do you know my good intentions now?”

“But you shouldn’t have drunk his blood.” Yuchi Rui was displeased, “That is too disgusting! What were you thinking?”

What was I thinking?

Gong Wei paused as if he didn’t know the answer. After a long while, he rolled his eyes and replied affectionately, “I wasn’t thinking too much, just thinking this might deter any other opponents present. Anyway, no one is allowed to hurt Shixiong!”

Yuchi Rui was so astounded that he almost dropped his fishing rod, “You actually have a conscience?”

Gong Wei grinned cheekily and cupped his own cheeks.

At that moment, a huge carriage raced across the sky. Four giant eagles were tied to the reins and as they moved, a lingering platinum glow trailed behind the carriage as it rushed towards the direction of the Correctional Palace in the distance. Gong Wei immediately jumped up, exclaiming, “Ah, the Blood River Chariot!”?Xu Bai is here!

He waded towards the banks and hurried to the shore. Then, he hastily slipped into his shoes. Yuchi Rui couldn’t stop him and had to watch as the giant fish that was about to be baited swished away in terror. He was devastated and yelled, “Bastard! Where are you going?!”

“Xu Bai hasn’t seen my new sword yet!”

“Xu Bai will kill you one day! “Yuchi Rui turned his head and hollered. By then, he could only see wafts of dust on the shore as Gong Wei had already slipped off in excitement.

Gong Wei raised his sword and raced across the corridor like a gust of wind. The disciples of the Correctional Palace passing by in the distance all stopped, casting respectful but fearful gazes as they watched with mixed emotions as he whizzed past.

Gong Wei didn’t notice the subtle changes in the attitudes of others then, nor did he care for it. He rushed to the study, deliberately slowing down to steady his breath right outside, before softly pushing the door open to give Xu Shuangtze a surprise. However, he didn’t expect the sound of a teacup heavily striking the table as Xu Shuangtze said coldly,

“I disagree.”

What are they talking about?

Gong Wei paused as he pushed slightly and peered through the crack in the door. Ying Kai and Xu Shuangtze were facing each other. For some reason, there was tension in the air. Ying Kai answered unhappily, “What’s there to disagree over?”

“On the surface, the assassination was the Ghost Taming Sect’s revenge on Gong Wei, but you and I know better. Why did they select that particular day of the ceremony, when Gong Wei accompanied me? How did the assassins sneak into the heavily-guarded Immortal Alliance?”

“Why was there not a single clue even after a thorough investigation? The Yellow Springs fatal poison and the Yin and Yang Chaos Mantra both belong to the Ghost Taming Sect. But what about the Death-for-Life formation brought about by the sacrifice of those twelve assassins? Do you recall what their bodies looked like after that? Why did they go to all that trouble?”

“Because this incident is inextricably linked to the major families!” Ying Kai articulated every word, “All the great masters are trying their best to support their own. They bestowed their descendants and direct disciples with treasures gathered from heaven and earth as well as their lifelong cultivation techniques. This is how the major families nurture grandmasters and protect their own family name.”

“The Artefact Sect Master has been inherited by three generations of the Changsun family. The Sword Sect Master has also remained in the Golden Gate for two generations. Moreover, these are the righteous and more decent families and sects.”

“What about the others then? Ruthless competition for resources and other selfish acts are prevalent. Even those minor families have to be subservient to the bigger ones. Otherwise, there will be no future for them! The Immortal Alliance shook the interests of these major families and sects. Naturally, there would be collective hatred from them. Even if they did not directly participate in this assassination, they must have welcomed it! If this persists, where does fairness stand to exist?”

Xu Shuangtze answered calmly, “For mortals of this world, it is normal for the elders to protect the interests of their children and grandchildren. This is merely human nature. There is no good nor evil to it, so just let it be. Why did you have to go against it?”

Ying Kai was speechless at this response and paused before adding, “Do you disapprove of me setting up the Department of Discipline, or are you disagreeing with the appointment of Gong Wei as the Chief? ”

Shixiong, wants me to be the Chief?

Gong Wei widened his eyes at the novelty.

“..”

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“He shouldn’t grow anymore. “Xu Shuangtze interrupted Ying Kai suddenly.

After a pause, he said again, “Don’t let Gong Wei interact with anyone again.”

Judging from his expression,? Ying Kai seemed to feel that there was a problem with his hearing, “What are you talking about?”

Xu Shuangtze did not answer.

“Gong Wei has a greater potential than you see right now. As long as he is guided well, his future cultivation may not be inferior to you and me. Do you want to lock him up for the rest of his life?”

The last sentence was obviously a rhetorical question, but Xu Shuangtze made no response. He only stared straight at him.

Gong Wei held his breath.

He still couldn’t see Xu Shuangtze’s face, but he knew that Xu Shuangtze’s expression must reveal something, because Ying Kai’s eyes became gradually shocked, and it took a long while before he whispered in disbelief, “..Xu Bai, are you crazy?”

Ying Kai was a very courteous person and rarely addressed anyone of the same rank by name.

Xu Shuangtze turned a deaf ear, “Don’t you think his talent is horrifying?”

“..” Ying Kai uttered with difficulty, “Xu Bai, you caused a nine-day thunder tribulation that had not been seen in a century when you formed your core. When my?Ding Shan Hai?sword was first unsheathed, the mountains and the seas reverberated, and no one said?we?were horrifying.”

“Do you really think you can guide him well?”

“Of course I can. Gong Wei is innocent and pure in nature, he is just..”

Xu Shuangtze sneered rhetorically for the third time, “Do you really think he is innocent and pure?”

Gong Wei seemed to have fallen into an absurd and frightening illusion. He didn’t understand what was happening before him, but an instinctive pain suddenly climbed from the bottom of his heart and pierced his throat.

Please stop, Gong Wei’s breathing was rapid.

Please stop talking, Xu Bai.

“Gong Zhiyu can never be a human being.” Xu Shuangtze stated with his back to the door, and without any emotion in his voice, “I know what you think. Even if demons and evil spirits take a human form, they cannot cultivate three souls and seven spirits. Only when they have the seventh soul, can they be considered a human.? If it is not a human being, then it can only be a being superior to you and me. In abstract terms, it is a being closer to the existence of ‘Heavenly Dao’ (Way of the Heaven) itself.

“And you think Gong Zhiyu might be such an existence.” Xu Shuangtze said.

Ying Kai stood silently and neither affirmed nor denied the statement.

“Ying Kai, you believe that Heavenly Dao is born of goodness. But I think it is born of a primordial and pure chaos. Heavenly Dao may not necessarily treat immortal cultivators like us in good faith. Gong Zhiyu treats people well now because the people he comes into contact with at the moment treat him well. If you want to maintain this status quo, you have to seal off his spiritual veins and keep him in a forbidden place. Other than you, me and Yuchi Rui, no one is allowed to come near him. In the future, when Yuchi Ru grows up, he too has to be isolated from him.”

“If you cannot do this, Ying Kai. “Xu Shuangtze said, “Mark my words, Gong Zhiyu is as sweet as a dream now, and in the same measure, will be as terrible as a nightmare in the future. One day you will regret it.”

Gong Wei’s pupils constricted at once because of a sharp pain.

As Xu Shuangtze moved, he finally saw his side profile. That handsome face had never been so cold and merciless as it was now. It was as if he was not just talking about a mere stranger, but some kind of wicked, ominous, and vile heresy that should be wiped off even from one’s feet.

Negative emotions poured in from all directions like a tidal wave.

The last few traces of Gong Wei’s desire to be closer to Xu Shuangtze made him want to control himself, but his nature prevailed. The exact same hostility rose from his heart as if the poisonous flames seared his internal organs, and even his bones and marrow were hissing with an agonizing pain.

Stop talking, Gong Wei thought in his confusion.

I’m really in pain, please don’t talk about this anymore—

Ying Kai was irritated, he seemed to be hurriedly criticizing something, his tone was stern and full of anger. Xu Shuangtze did not waver and the dispute became louder and more intense. Finally, Ying Kai slammed the paperweight on the table, “Xu Shuangtze! I think you’re the one who’s possessed!”

“What we picked up from the Peach Forest of Cang Yang Mountain that year was not a human at all, it was a heresy of the Heavenly Dao.” Xu Shuangtze spoke clearly and sharply, “We took this heresy back, and one day it will bring destruction to everyone in this world!”

With a click, the door was pushed open.

The two turned their heads at the same time, Gong Wei stood outside the door, staring directly at Xu Shuangtze.

Ying Kai lost his voice, “Gong Wei..”

Xu Shuangtze’s expression became strange at once. He seemed to force himself to look away slightly, but then he stopped again. He raised his head, took a breath, and stood there calmly.

“Don’t you like me, Xu Bai? “Gong Wei asked gently.

Xu Shuangtze did not answer.

Ying Kai could only utter two words from his tightened throat, “Gong Wei..”

Gong Wei asked stubbornly, “Will you keep hating me?”

No one noticed Xu Shuangtze’s shoulders and arms tensed up as he secretly dug his fingertips into his palms and a trace of warm sweat slowly seeped along his palm lines.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but after a long silence, he shut his lips tightly and walked out without another word.

Ying Kai cried anxiously, “Xu..”

Even before that sentence ended, Xu Shuangtze felt a grip on his arm. It was Gong Wei who caught him at that moment. The youth raised his head and looked directly at him.

——Kill him,?the innate consciousness in the depths of his soul sounded clearly once again.

“..Gong Wei,” Xu Shuangtze said hoarsely, “I said before never to use these inhuman tricks on me.

A trace of scarlet had appeared in the youth’s right pupil, blooming like a fairy flower from another world.

Xu Shuangtze tugged his hand away gently, “Gong Wei!”

Xu Bai must die.

Xu Bai must be the first to die.

No one can leave.?Xu Bai has to die first.

Gong Wei closed his eyes and sprang them open abruptly. At this moment, his right pupil was dyed with an intense and pure blood red!

Xu Shuangtze’s expression changed slightly and he attempted to dodge, but it was too late.?Bai Taishou?was shockingly unsheathed and following an immense oppressive aura which poured out, spiritual power swept like an arc in all directions. The floor instantly burst into thousands of fragments, and the doors and windows shattered into dust!

——Qiang!

The violent crash of metal on stone was deafening.

Xu Shuangtze held on to the hilt of?No Way Out?firmly. The sword scabbard was the only thing that blocked that murderous blow and a terrible screech sounded as the metals scraped against each other.

The blade of?Bai Taishou?coldly reflected Gong Wei’s eyes at close range, and a faint flicker flashed within them.

He stared at Xu Shuangtze so intensely with widened eyes, as if he could hold back that something in his eye sockets. But he failed. Tears streamed down his cheeks and dripped onto the blade which was still enveloped with a murderous aura. Each drop splattered into numerous glistening sparkles of moisture.

“..”

Xu Shuangtze released the hilt of his sword, reached out his hand to wipe off the tear stains on Gong Wei’s cheek, and asked in a low voice, “Want to kill me?”

The palm of his hand could easily hold onto half of the young man’s face, and their breaths mingled seamlessly.

He leaned towards Gong Wei’s ear and whispered, “You won’t have such an opportunity again.”

At this moment,?Qiang!?With a bright sound, Ying Kai drew his sword and sternly hollered, “Shuangtze!”

Xu Shuangtze straightened up, and retracted his sword. Without another word, he brushed past Gong Wei’s shoulder and walked out.

Just as he was about to cross the threshold, Gong Wei spun around and swung his sword. The sword glare cut through the void and Xu Shuangtze waved his arm to deflect, only to have the sleeves of his robe ripped apart!

Blood splattered out from his palm, staining the ground in a dotted arc.

But Xu Shuangtze didn’t look back. He stepped steadily over the threshold and left.

The huge commotion had already alarmed most of the Correctional Palace. The guards rushed towards the sounds but did not dare to approach. They hid from a distance under the white jade platform in front of the palace.

Xu Shuangtze turned a blind eye to them. With hands behind his back, he paced across the corridor alone. The wind swept from the edge of the sky and end of the earth, and the torn sleeves of his robes fluttered behind him. It was at this exact same place just a few years ago, where the sunlight streamed through the veil towards the end of spring..

It was when that thin and young figure suddenly emerged from the top of the wall, peering at the two small gold coins that swung from his hand. He had such bright and wide eyes that were brimming with curiosity.

Ding dang, ding dang.

Xu Shuangtze did not stop.

He could still vividly see that youth leaping down, and whizzing past him as he snatched away those small gold coins from his hand within an instant. The youth grasped them so tightly in his palm, like a treasure—as if he was afraid that he would lose them by accident. Then, like a stream of clouds, he disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The wind wafted and brushed past his ears.

Ding dang, ding dang.

Xu Shuangtze had clearly mastered the Emotionless Path and his heart should have been unwavering and strong. Yet, out of nowhere, there was throbbing pain from within, like layer upon layer of fine silk enveloping that heart which was supposed to be ice cold like steel.

It must be the enchantment from that strange eye, he thought.

Xu Shuangtze’s fingers dug deeper into the bloodied wound on his palm, and he raised his head, gazing towards the rolling mountains. The man thought that if he continued without turning back, he would then be able to walk out of that beautiful sweet dream, leaving behind that indulgent time which was gentle like a stream, at the end of spring of that year.

The eighteenth year of Taiyi passed with an enduring wind sweeping over the overlapping palace eaves. The skies were covered with peach blossom petals that fell like snow.

The Cang Yang Sect Master, with his sword behind his back, descended the long magnificent steps of Dai Mountain alone. The?ding dang?sound in the void he was determined to leave behind grew further and further with his every step. Each stride took him closer towards the distant future, filled with red candles and celebratory banquets as well as the fateful bloodshed that was yet to come.