Chapter 248: Cutting Off the Robe and Breaking the Brotherhood
How many times can a person luckily escape death?
The hope of Qiao Wan surviving was very slim.
Xuan Zhong looked surprised, seeing this usually cold and proud junior with slightly red eyes. But he remained silent, not shedding a single tear.
He simply bent over and coughed violently, as if trying to cough out his lung, a sight that was disturbing to witness.
Elder Xuan Zhong had wanted to say something comforting, but in the end, he didn't know what to say. Lu Pihan, who was always cold and independent, didn't need his comfort anyway.
Soon, he stood up and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief he always carried in his sleeve. In a deep voice, Lu Pihan respectfully asked Xuan Zhong, "Master, I wish to explore the secret realm. May I have your permission?"
According to the plan, Lu Pihan was supposed to go to the secret realm as well. However, due to his fragile health, everyone hesitated and decided against it. But now, with Lu Pihan's younger martial sister in danger, he proactively asked to go to the secret realm, making the elders feel guilty for stopping him.
The head of the Cloud Mist Fairy Mansion, Gongsun Bingzi, sighed with mixed feelings and said, "Go then, but be careful in the mysterious secret realm."
Unexpectedly, just as Lu Pihan was about to take a step, there was suddenly a surge of spiritual energy from the teleportation array not far away to the north.
The disciple guarding the teleportation array exclaimed, "Someone! Someone is coming out!"
Venerable One Miaofa, Xuan Zhong, and Gongsun Bingzi, along with others, were slightly startled.
Gongsun Bingzi immediately walked over briskly.
The formation shone, revealing a familiar face in the center.
It was Bai Shanhu !
The girl was covered in blood, protecting several other disciples who were also bloody and looked tired and scared. When she caught sight of Gongsun Bingzi, she walked up to her and bowed, her face looking extremely unpleasant.
Finally seeing a familiar disciple alive, Gongsun Bingzi couldn't possibly let her bow. She immediately stepped forward and reached out to help Bai Shanhu up.
"Shanhu, where are the others? Have you seen them inside?"
Elder Xuan Zhong asked in surprise, "What happened inside? Why are only a few of you coming out?"
The young girl looked a bit cold and unhappy, her eyebrows furrowed. But when she saw the elders, her expression softened a bit and she didn't bother with formalities. She immediately reported the situation with a serious face.
After entering a special place called the secret realm, a group of disciples from Chongde came together. At first, everything was fine, but after walking for a while, they began to feel that something was wrong.
Later, she protected her fellow disciples and escaped from the secret realm, while Meng Canglang and Qi Feidao stayed behind to search for what was lost, along with the remaining Chongde disciples.
Venerable One Miaofa frowned and said, "Are you saying that we can be attacked for no reason in this secret realm?"
"That doesn't make sense," Xuan Zhong wondered. "We sent disciples in earlier to investigate and nothing went wrong then."
Trying to think positively, they wondered if there were still mysterious things in this secret realm that they hadn't discovered.
Considering the worst-case scenario, everyone became a bit stiff and uneasy.
Is this a plot?
Everyone present is a group of men, except for Gongsun Bingzi who is a bit more observant. She noticed that Bai Shanhu looked a bit tired and gently tapped her slender shoulder.
"You've worked hard. Later, go to Mrs. Cen to check your injuries and rest well."
Perhaps thinking about her younger martial sisters behind her who looked tired, Bai Shanhu surprisingly didn't refuse. With the guidance of the undercover disciples from Kunshan, she headed towards the camp.
However, when they arrived in front of the tent, Bai Shanhu didn't go inside.
"Elder martial sister?" Chongde, a younger martial sister, asked in surprise with wide eyes. "Aren't you going in?"
Bai Shanhu shook her head. "I won't go in. You go ahead with the other younger martial sisters."
As the girl pulled out a slender and beautiful sword from her cloak, its blade shimmering like rippling water and entwined with coral, a younger martial sister from Chongde Ancient Garden was a bit confused as she watched Bai Shanhu walk towards a different direction.
Bai Shanhu, the elder martial sister, still had blood on her body. Where are you going?
Bai Shanhu walked all the way to Xiao's family camp and then stopped. She asked the guards of Xiao's family to relay a message.
"I am looking for Xiao Huan."
The guards of Xiao's family immediately recognized the beautiful and cold-looking girl in front of them. She was the young lady of the Bai family, who grew up with Xiao Huan. They became cautious and entered the tent.
After a while, they came out and looked at Bai Shanhu with a difficult expression. "Miss Bai... Our family head has just passed away, and the young master is currently handling the family affairs on his behalf. He is too busy to meet you at the moment. The young master asks for your understanding and promises to personally visit you tomorrow."
Bai Shanhu quietly looked at him. A hint of golden light seemed to reflect in her cold, dark eyes. Her black hair against her temples appeared noble and distant.
"He refuses to see me, is that right?"
Under the astonished gaze of the guards at the Xiao family, Shining Sea crossed over them and decisively entered the tent!
"Miss Bai! Please wait! Eh!"
It was too late.
Bai Shanhu had already entered the tent, her gaze fixed on Xiao Huan, who was sitting in the main seat.
Xiao Huan glanced to the side, showing surprise on his face, then softly asked, "Shanhu?"
He gestured to another guard, signaling for them to leave.
Upon seeing Xiao Huan, Bai Shanhu didn't take another step forward. She stood in place, her sleeves coldly hanging by her side.
"What about Fang Lingqing?"
Xiao Huan had no response.
Bai Shanhu didn't expect that after entering the secret realm, she would ask for news about Fang Lingqing. Just moments ago, she had learned from others that the head of the Xiao family, Xiao Jingzhou, and the young master, Xiao Sui, had both died, along with Qiao Wan from Kunshan. It seemed that Qiao Wan had been with Fang Lingqing before she died.
Bai Shanhu, a wise woman, knows Xiao Huan well.
They have grown up together since they were young, and no one understands Xiao Huan better than her.
With a little thought, she immediately realizes that she must be involved with Xiao Huan in this matter.
Bai Shanhu looks directly at Xiao Huan without blinking or avoiding.
Xiao Huan, about to say something, suddenly gets stuck and can't bring himself to speak.
He can deceive everyone with cunning methods, but he can't deceive Bai Shanhu with her cold eyes.
It's not because of "love", but because Bai Shanhu is pure. She is the kind of person who is willing to exchange her own blood for a piece of pure white in the world.
They are not on the same path, and when Xiao Huan meets Bai Shanhu's gaze, he can't help but smile bitterly.
It only makes him feel the blood on his hands, having killed his younger brother and then his father.
To achieve great things, one must be ruthless at heart. However, even as a person, he would feel guilty and a sense of wrongdoing for taking someone's life. He would also feel sorry for Little Sui. If it wasn't for Xiao Jingzhou forcing him, who wouldn't want to be a good person, clean and pure.
When faced with Bai Shanhu's gaze, Xiao Huan was taken aback and awkwardly looked away, saying, "Shanhu..."
Bai Shanhu calmly asked, "Is Fang Lingqing dead or alive?"
Bai Shanhu repeated, "Is he dead or alive?"
Xiao Huan remained silent for a moment, his voice dry as he said, "Taoist Friend Fang is now in a secret realm... It's likely that his situation is more bad than good."
Before taking action, he had already anticipated that he and Bai Shanhu would become strangers. Even this youthful affection couldn't shake his determination.
As the words left his mouth, Xiao Huan felt a sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his heart. He could even put on a fake expression of concern and said softly, "Shanhu, are you injured?" He raised his hand, "I'll call someone..."
"No need," Bai Shanhu interrupted him directly.
Xiao Huan quietly watched her as she stood a few steps away from him.
"Xiao Huan." His hand clenched slightly inside his sleeve, and the girl's figure swayed slightly. Her face turned slightly pale. "I understand."
Even though she was the elder martial sister from Chongde Ancient Garden, who had just led the fellow disciples to escape from the secret realm through a bloody battle.
But Bai Shanhu was still young and a junior disciple. She had witnessed her childhood friend's betrayal with her own eyes. Naturally, she felt disappointed and cold-hearted.
In fact, she had long anticipated that she would end up like this with Xiao Huan.
When she was young, she had a good relationship with Xiao Huan. However, as time went on, Xiao Huan's true character was revealed. He realized that they were not on the same path, and after sensing his hidden feelings, Bai Shanhu purposely avoided him.
Although she consciously avoided too much contact with Xiao Huan over the years, deep down, she still hoped that her childhood friend could have a day to shine.
But not like this, definitely not like now.
Xiao Huan looked at Bai Shanhu quietly picking up the sword in her hand and asked, "Do you know why I have been avoiding you all these years?"
Xiao Huan felt like someone had grabbed his throat and remained silent. Without hesitation, Bai Shanhu decisively and forcefully cut off a corner of her robe.
"I know that ambition and means are necessary for achieving great things," Bai Shanhu said in a deep voice.
"People can use means, but they shouldn't be despicable," Xiao Huan replied.
"It's good that you have your own ambitions," Bai Shanhu continued.
"But that doesn't excuse what you have done to Fang Lingqing and Xiao Sui," she added.
"Everything you have done disgusts me."
*
Shortly after Bai Shanhu led some disciples of Chongde out of the secret realm, disciples from various sects entered the secret realm again to investigate and rescue people.
All the disciples who were still in the secret realm and whose communication had not been affected received a message on their jade tokens.
The message was unstable, with blurry words on the jade tokens.
"Something strange is happening in the secret realm. Disciples who are still in the secret realm must go to the northern teleportation array and leave quickly."
"There will be someone to assist you on the way."
The last three words were urgent.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry," the messenger's urgency was expressed.
Before finishing the message, it suddenly cut off. After a while, a few lines of words reappeared on the jade tablet.
"Now the confirmed casualties are: Kunshan: Qiao Wan
Chongde Ancient Garden: Fang Lingqing
Sun Tao College:...
... If there are missing fellow disciples, there is no need to search anymore.
Return quickly, return quickly, return quickly."
"Ah!"
A scream rang out.
Gan Nan trembled all over, his face pale as he stared at the words on the jade tablet in disbelief.
Qiao Wan ?
Did Qiao Wan die?!
The young man couldn't help but open his mouth wide, his voice hoarse as he raised the jade tablet and looked at another young man walking towards him with attractive features.
"Pei... taoist friend Pei..."
