Chapter 166: Daily Life in Kunshan
The Xuan Zhong disciples were stunned as they witnessed everything unfold before their eyes.
"Just a moment ago…"
Wasn't Qiao Wan considered the least useful disciple under Yuqing Spiritual Master? But just now, her first move was incredibly mysterious, and the second move was powerful. Even Wen Hui, one of the outstanding disciples in Kunshan, might not be able to execute them.
Is this still the same Qiao Wan they knew?!
Yuqing Spiritual Master was even coughing up blood from a single palm strike!
"Master!" Mu Xiaoxiao panicked, her face turning pale. She reached out her hand to assist, but Zhou Yan extended his hand instead, wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth.
His voice was hoarse, "I'm fine."
Mu Xiaoxiao awkwardly withdrew her hand, her eyes welling up with tears.
Zhou Yan looked up and glanced at Qiao Wan, who was crouching on a pillar. He retracted his hand, and droplets of blood fell from his fingertips.
The man took a step forward, and even the crane patterns on his robe were stained with a hint of blood.
Zhou Yan walked very slowly, and with each step, his chest felt congested and he felt a throbbing pain.
Qiao Wan jumped down from the pillar and took a step back.
Zhou Yan stopped in his tracks.
She resisted.
It was Zhou Yan who held her hand and walked up Yuqing Peak before, but now Qiao Wan resisted his approach. This thought flashed through his mind, causing a surge of blood in his chest. Zhou Yan almost coughed up blood again.
Turning around to the other disciples of Xuan Zhong, he said, "Today's class is over, you can go back now."
The strike was too brutal. Although curiosity was burning inside them, the disciples of Xuan Zhong restrained themselves and politely took their leave, glancing at Qiao Wan.
Once the disciples of Xuan Zhong left, Zhou Yan remained silent for a long time, and with a hoarse voice, he said, "What do I need to do for you to forgive me?"
For hundreds of years, he rarely bowed his head.
Before he could finish speaking, he coughed up a little blood.
Qiao Wan struggled in her heart for a while, but finally stopped resisting.
Zhou Yan tightly clenched his fists and let out a barely noticeable sigh of relief. Perhaps Qiao Wan was just being stubborn, but deep down, she still cared about their past. In all these centuries, Zhou Yan had never realized that he could also feel so vulnerable.
His voice slightly faltered as he stiffly said, "Wan'er."
However, the young girl lowered her gaze and said, "I want the Red Fire Golden Fetus."
Upon hearing these words, Zhou Yan felt like he had been struck by lightning, freezing in his spot.
Red Fire Golden Fetus?
It was something he had obtained by chance not too long ago, only two of them in total.
Was Qiao Wan here for the Red Fire Golden Fetus?!
The man's expression instantly turned rigid on his face.
This compliance, this so-called concern for their past, was it all for the Red Fire Golden Fetus?!
She was actually here for the Red Fire Golden Fetus?!
Zhou Yan asked, "Are you here for the Red Fire Golden Fetus?"
Qiao Wan looked at Zhou Yan, her eyes following his gaze until they landed on Mu Xiaoxiao. Mu Xiaoxiao, with slightly red eyes, met Zhou Yan's stare and shook her head.
"Master, the Red Fire Golden Fetus is of no use to me now, and I'm not in a hurry to forge the sword. It's not easy to retrieve something that has been given to Wenshi Hall. Let Martial Sister Qiao Wan have this Red Fire Golden Fetus."
Qiao Wan was taken aback. Honestly, she never thought about competing with Mu Xiaoxiao for the essence of the sword.
"...I have already promised you, elder martial sister, the Red Fire Golden Fetus."
He had already let Qiao Wan down once, and he couldn't let Xiaoxiao down again.
Zhou Yan closed his eyes slowly, struggling to reveal his words.
When Wan'er was initially given the Autumn Water Sword, Xiaoxiao felt sad. And now, even if he could give her more, he couldn't give it to Qiao Wan. She would certainly leave without hesitation.
"I can grant you everything except for this Red Fire Golden Fetus. I'm sorry for that."
In the girl's dark eyes, there was a calm and serene expression.
With a hint of embarrassment.avoided Qiao Wan's gaze and said, "I will definitely help you find a sword marrow better than the Red Fire Golden Fetus, and I will personally forge it for you."
Qiao Wan remained calm.
She shook her head calmly.
Hundreds of years ago, on the battlefield in the northern region, Yuqing Spiritual Master had once shattered mountains with a single sword, forcing the demonic cultivators to retreat for dozens of miles. His sword-forging skills were unparalleled in the world.
Qiao Wan had no doubt that there were swords better than the Red Fire Golden Fetus in this world, but unfortunately, they were not what she desired.
Seeing Qiao Wan's expression, Zhou Yan suddenly felt a bit uneasy.
Qiao Wan nodded slightly and turned to leave the cave.
Mu Xiaoxiao took a step forward, biting her lip, and said in a sorrowful voice, "Master."
"Xiaoxiao," Zhou Yan lowered his gaze, "Perhaps I have truly made a mistake."
Perhaps he didn't have such deep feelings for Qiao Wan, his disciple, in the beginning, but over time, it became a heartache he couldn't ignore.
...
It felt even more difficult to handle now.
After leaving Zhou Yan's cave, Qiao Wan scratched her head, feeling troubled.
Zhou Yan's response was not unexpected to her, maybe she shouldn't have tried to ask that question.
Now it was not possible to leave the mountain for a while, so why not go back to Wenshi Hall and see if she could fight for another opportunity?
Just the thought of Ma Huaizhen made Qiao Wan break out in cold sweat.
Although this Executioner God was still on Jiuyue Mountain, it felt like going back to Wenshi Hall now would be seeking death.
But before Qiao Wan could go to Wenshi Hall, another dangerous situation presented itself.
She was being prohibited from leaving.
"It's not exactly a lockdown, but Zhou Yan restricted Qiao Wan's movements. She didn't panic too much. Since Li Pan was right, it would be better to settle all the problems in Kunshan once and for all.
Although her movements were restricted, Zhou Yan didn't skimp on her food and drink.
Every day, she calmly stayed in the palace to practice and sleep. She kept practicing and sleeping until one day, Qiao Wan saw a familiar face outside the window.
Dressed in a stylish white outfit, with a pretty and youthful face. However, there was a hint of distortion on that pretty face.
Meeting Qiao Wan's gaze, Xiao Boyang said angrily, 'What are you looking at?! Aren't you coming out? Do I have to come in and invite you?'
Qiao Wan was shocked and said, 'Martial Brother Xiao?'
News of Qiao Wan's return spread throughout Kunshan, and of course, Xiao Boyang heard about it too.
He claimed not to care, but the determination he had seen in her eyes at the Cen Mansion haunted his thoughts.
Seeing that Qiao Wan showed no intention of coming out for some fresh air, Xiao Boyang furrowed his brow."
Other people might not understand the meaning behind it, but since he was born into the Xiao family, who are known for their strict rules, he had been locked up since he was young. If Qiao Wan were to come back, she would definitely come out for a stroll. It had been two whole days, and there was no sign of Qiao Wan. Most likely, she was left on Yuqing Peak by Yuqing Spiritual Master.
After tossing and turning, and agonizing for two days and nights, the young master of the Xiao family finally got up, wiped his face, and made up his mind.
Forget it!
Consider it a favor to repay Qiao Wan.
Although Zhou Yan restricted Qiao Wan's movements, he did not restrict others from going up to Yuqing Peak. Xiao Boyang made his way up without any trouble.
He leaned against the window without any grace and asked impatiently, "Are we leaving or not?"
Their eyes met.
Years of silently working together made everything unspoken.
Qiao Wan answered decisively, "Let's go."
They high-fived.
After determining the goal, the next step is to take action.
As Qiao Wan deftly climbed out of the window, Xiao Boyang took a few steps back to give her some room and raised his eyes to ask, "Where are you planning to go?"
Qiao Wan thought carefully and replied, "I want to go to Wenshi Hall."
Xiao Boyang was slightly stunned and looked at Qiao Wan in shock, "You want to go from Yuqing Peak to Wenshi Hall? It's like rushing into danger."
"I want to go to Wenshi Hall to inquire about the Red Fire Golden Fetus. Have you heard about it?"
"Is that the sword marrow that the spiritual master recently obtained?"
Yuqing Peak is in the west, and Wenshi Hall is in the east. To get to Wenshi Hall, they would have to pass through Taixuan Peak.
Unfortunately, Taixuan Peak belongs to Elder Taixuan, and Pei Chunzheng is one of Elder Taixuan's disciples.
Xiao Boyang felt a bit conflicted about having to pass through Taixuan Peak.
Although it has been a long time, everyone in Kunshan could see how much Qiao Wan loved Pei Chunzheng. Even during the trip with the Cen family, Qiao Wan didn't show much emotional ups and downs, but emotional wounds are usually difficult to heal.
"We will pass by Taixuan Peak later." Xiao Boyang's voice was unusually gentle. "Be careful."
The young man furrowed his brow. "If it weren't for... Mu... I wouldn't have bothered to come and save you."
Xiao Boyang never doubted his feelings for Mu Xiaoxiao. If it weren't for Mu Xiaoxiao feeling guilty and uneasy about Qiao Wan, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of coming to her rescue. He... he didn't come to save Qiao Wan on his own accord!!
As they passed Taixuan Peak, Xiao Boyang couldn't help but glance over.
From a distance, they could only see the green tiles and flying eaves on Taixuan Peak, surrounded by clouds and mist. The mountains were slightly covered in white, with snow accumulating on the pine trees, but they didn't see the familiar figure below the cliff.
Qiao Wan walked steadily, her face serious, and said earnestly, "I have someone else in my heart now."
Walking behind Qiao Wan, Xiao Boyang slipped and almost fell but managed to regain his balance.
"You have someone in your heart?!!" The young man widened his eyes and looked at Qiao Wan in disbelief.
"When did you have someone in your heart?" The wind howled, and the snow made the delicate butterfly clip in the girl's hair flutter.
Her intention in saying this was to silence Xiao Boyang, but the image of that dignified figure in her mind made Qiao Wan's face turn a bit red.
It felt somewhat... shameful.
Xiao Boyang: ...
Did Qiao Wan just blush?!!
The girl's expressionless face turned red, making the scene not only strange but also quite horrifying.
Xiao Boyang was stunned into silence, his eyes wide open with shock.
"Do you... do you really mean it?" Qiao Wan's eyebrows furrowed, and she turned around calmly, saying in a low voice, "Let's go."
They went to find the Red Fire Golden Fetus.
After Qiao Wan and Xiao Boyang left, a cold wind swept through, shaking the tall and strong pine trees and scattering bits of white snow.
Emerging from behind the sturdy tree trunk was a figure, appearing lonely and desolate.
The young boy tightly held his Snow Fright Sword in his arms, his throat rolling as he swallowed, the sheathed blade hidden deep within his embrace.
His chest was drenched in a patch of fresh blood, staining his shirt.
Is it his beloved...?
