Chapter 248

Two Hundred Fifty-Six: Chenjun Xie Lingjiang: I got here first!

The slender figure of Yuan Shijie Xiuniang appeared before the Scripture Copying Hall plaza.

Her eyes were slightly red, as if she had cried. She had rushed here, dusty and weary.

Especially after seeing the cold figure of the fox-fur-clad woman standing ahead, face stern and waiting.

Chenjun Xie Lingjiang noticed Yuan Shijie Xiuniang's hands clasped behind her back, head slightly bowed, her hurried steps slowing.

She appeared even more frail and pitiable.

Like a drenched, homeless kitten timidly returning, making one instinctively want to reach out and ruffle her head.

But Chenjun Xie Lingjiang knew the true strength of this mute Wu Qun: she could easily sever Liu Fu's arm; her slender frame bore a three-foot-long sword, underscoring the quiet strength hidden within her nature.

Yet this mute woman, who had rushed back from Digong Zha, somehow—

Her small face looked dazed and vacant, as if she had lost her anchor, anxious and distracted…

Seeing the devoted mute man behind her, Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's expression wavered, unsure whether to be happy or worried.

"Stop staring—he arrived so late, the man's long gone. Do you think everyone's as idle as he is, wandering aimlessly?" Her tone was harsh.

Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's face froze in shock.

Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's eyes widened in disbelief, her speech stumbling: "Miss Zhao, why did he… why did he hold your junior brother?"

You thought for a moment, then ventured a guess:

Nearby, Yuan Shijie Xiuniang stopped, mouth opening silently, face flushed with shame. Chenjun Xie Lingjiang shook her head firmly, "Ah ah eh ah."

But wasn't it rumored before the Peach Valley Sword Challenge that the current Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Lu Jue Lin were like celestial beings, pure and aloof, never speaking to women in the sect…? Wait—was it because she was mute, truly unable to speak?

Compared to Yuan Shijie Xiuniang's flustered expression, Lu Jue Lin's face, listening from the side, remained even more calm.

Yet at that moment, Lu Jue Lin, sitting disheveled amid the ruins, suddenly stood up, unable to bear it any longer, shouting toward the two men nearby:

The little junior brother, eyes closed in her arms, had been snatched away! Bad news—the little junior brother is beyond saving!

"Uh…" Yue Lady Yue Chuzi stared up blankly, immediately seeing Chenjun Xie Lingjiang kneeling on the ground just like her, tightly embracing Zhao Zhao Qingshou, her tear-streaked face buried deep in his chest, sobbing soundlessly.

At this moment, Zhao Zhao Qingshou lay unconscious in Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's arms; Yue Lady Yue Chuzi knelt amid the ruins, facing the snow-lit candle, her slender figure turned sideways to Yuan Shijie Xiuniang, momentarily blocking Yuan Shijie Xiuniang's view of the approaching scene.

Chenjun Xie Lingjiang shook her head, pointing toward the mountain where Longcheng County lay.

For example, in the thousand-year-old expedition that presented the "Elixir of Immortality" to the First Emperor, besides the first Sword-Bearer in history, there was another Magistrate Ouyang Rong accompanying them—both together severed half of Great Qin's destiny.

Yue Lady Yue Chuzi frowned and called out to them.

No wonder outsiders thought you cold and introverted—it was merely the skewed perspective of those unworthy women who saw Magistrate Ouyang Rong as unattainable, then spread rumors, misleading Yue Lady Yue Chuzi.

Lu Jue Lin's thoughts swirled; she quickly stilled her mind, looked up at the little junior brother clutched tightly in her arms, then at the snow-lit candle and the mute girl… No—it was Chenjun Xie Lingjiang.

Yuan Shijie Xiuniang, returned, stepped into the Scripture Copying Hall plaza. Her face, faintly dejected, now showed a hint of curious confusion as she surveyed the ruined, chaotic scene.

Good news—I'm going to become a true person.

Her legal qualifications were even higher than that of the current acting leader of Tongfu Hall, Lu Jue Snow Candle.

Chenjun Xie Lingjiang raised her head, suddenly flipped her hand—sword tip as pen, carving characters into the ground.

She couldn't lie at all; that expression naturally escaped Snow Candle's keen eyes.

But it was clearly I got here first!

At this moment, Zhao Zhao Qingshou was being tightly embraced by the pure-hearted mute girl; displaced, Yue Lady Yue Chuzi looked up, feeling only emptiness in her arms, her eyes slightly lost and bewildered.

Lu Jue Lin's expression stiffened; Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's trembling hand brushed Zhao Zhao Qingshou's face, then, in her panic, groped blindly over his body, checking for injuries. "Ah ah."

No chance!

Lu Jue Lin's sword was already drawn, held backward in a reverse grip, pressed tightly against her slender neck—a bloodline instantly appeared.

"The junior master misunderstands."

These eight characters, for a thousand years, had become a legend across the world, nearly equivalent to the reincarnation of the founder of Lady Yunmeng Sword Marsh—except Yue Chu's lineage carried mythic spiritual essence, and only a rare, sentient white monkey could find the one-and-only Yue girl in Wu-Yue lands.

"Today in Longcheng, the Ding Sword has emerged; demons and dragons mingle. Don't you know?"

Snow Candle turned her back to Yue Lady Yue Chuzi, ignoring her entirely—as if neither she nor Zhao Zhao Qingshou existed.

Yuan Shijie Xiuniang averted her eyes, as if ashamed, unable to face the ground.

The fox-fur-shouldered Lu Jue couldn't help turning again, glancing at Yue Lady Yue Chuzi, whose almond eyes had widened in shock, and shot her a furious glare—was that… was that really the man who wept and begged for her? How could he possibly be connected to my junior sister…? So they've been putting on a show right before my eyes?

At that moment, Snow Candle walked over, stunned, her finger trembling as she pointed at the severely wounded youth: "That… that's not your Digong?"

"Ah?" Yuan Shijie Xiuniang's expression visibly panicked.

That helpless, earnest, guilt-ridden look—made Snow Candle even angrier:

The Chenjun Xie Chenjun Xie Shigui man leaned back as far as he could, pressing tightly against Chenjun Xie Lingjiang's side, reaching down to silently grasp the little brother's hand that had slipped away, their fingers interlocked, his head tilted in stunned silence.

Yuan Shijie Xiuniang bowed her head, stepped forward, reaching to grasp her senior sister's sleeve—but Snow Candle swept it away with a large sleeve.

Snow Candle's tone was unmistakably firm.

The mute girl sheathed her sword, exhaled deeply, hugging her precious little lord tightly, laughing and crying in turns.

Suddenly recalling the soothing tone of a certain considerate, kind-hearted junior sister in the sect, this ruthless Lady Yunmeng junior master clenched her lips, spoke again—her voice unusually soft, though the words still carried a chill:

Though now, the two men nearby seemed caught in some awkward situation, the exact nature of which Yue Lady Yue Chuzi, an outsider, had not understood despite listening for so long.

"What? He says you're not family?" Snow Candle understood, nearly losing control of her sword hand; she took a deep breath, tried to reason gently:

Because Snow Candle had blocked her, Yuan Shijie Xiuniang did not approach Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's side; the two men stood together nearby.

"Think— if your Digong family truly regarded you as family, why, for so many years, has no one ever come looking for you? Why have they never inquired about you?"

"Ah eh." Chenjun Xie Lingjiang pressed her cheek against his forehead, nodding frantically at Snow Candle, indicating this was her little lord; she crawled on her knees, carrying Lu Jue Lin to Snow Candle's front, sobbing "Wu wu wu" while clutching her senior sister's skirt hem.

Snow Candle frowned, glancing sideways at Yuan Shijie Xiuniang, silently asking if this were true. Snow Candle took a deep breath, forcing her face to soften:

Snow Candle let go of Yue Lady Yue Chuzi, as if avoiding her, to speak with her own junior sister. In a thousand years, Magistrate Ouyang Rong had even killed a Confucian sage.

Meanwhile, Lu Jue Lin, tightly embracing the little junior brother, stared blankly. Chenjun Xie Lingjiang still held him, refusing to let go.

"The Peach Valley Sword Challenge—you won the top rank, yet you were distracted the whole time. I asked you to climb the mountain and investigate the old alliance in Longcheng, yet you lingered endlessly, offering flimsy excuses, delaying your return—and now you've repeatedly sneaked into this county…"

Snow Candle's tone turned icy: "I don't care how he behaves. Junior sister, everyone has their own fate. Not just you—your senior sisters and I are the same. Once you've joined Lady Yunmeng, all earthly ties must be severed. Even if our master were still alive, even if he doted on you most, he would never permit such foolishness!"

"No, I won't save him!" Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's first reaction was relief—but the next moment, she suddenly felt a weight vanish from her arms; she held nothing.

The acting leader of Lady Yunmeng Tongfu Hall suddenly turned, fixing Yuan Shijie Xiuniang with a piercing gaze: "Is there someone here you can't forget?"

But this is the current Magistrate Ouyang Rong of Tongfu Hall—the first heir to the Lady Yunmeng Sword Marsh's Sect Master, the "Yuan Jun."

"You… you're utterly mad! A great traitor to the Dao!"

"Junior master, your junior sister passed by Nüjun Zha recently, drew her sword, and saved your little junior brother. He is the magistrate of Longcheng County, responsible for flood control and saving the people. Surely this girl was also worried about Longcheng's citizens, her heart kind—so when Nüjun Zha collapsed, she thought the flood would drown the people and rushed downstream to Nüjun Zha—not, as you imagine, wandering for pleasure or neglecting duty."

Realizing what had just happened, Lu Jue Lin's face lit up; she grabbed Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's sleeve, shaking it vigorously, signaling her senior sister had agreed.

The Lady Yunmeng junior master roared in anger—but Chenjun Xie Lingjiang responded with surprising intensity, raising her head and carving characters, attempting to communicate.

"Isn't he also in this county?"

Snow Candle's nostrils flared, her pale face flushed crimson; she muttered curses, then finally lowered her eyes to study the characters carved on the ground.

Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's eyes shone with hope toward Chenjun Xie Lingjiang. Cang—! Cold light like water.

Since the founding Magistrate Ouyang Rong who slew all the dragons in Wu-Yue's mountains and rivers during the Spring and Autumn period, every single Magistrate Ouyang Rong since has been legendary.

Seeing this, Snow Candle subtly exhaled in relief.

She led Lu Jue Lin away a little; Snow Candle's eyes fixed on Chenjun Xie Lingjiang. No one knew what the two junior masters discussed—but after a long while, one junior master's face turned dark as he turned away, shaking his sleeve in anger, nodding fiercely.

The Lady Yunmeng junior master circled toward Yuan Shijie Xiuniang, blocking her view of the plaza's wreckage: Read Book

Her eyes glowed with greater hope—if this girl could plead on her behalf, and her senior sister saved the little junior brother, given her high status in Tongfu Hall, Snow Candle would surely agree.

Lu Jue Lin listened for a while, then suddenly interrupted: Snow Candle snorted, ignoring her.

Snow Candle's face, usually as fair and delicate as snow framed by the fox-fur shoulder cape, now flushed red and purple in turns.

"Junior master, Miss Zhao, could you please wait a moment before catching up? Your little junior brother is dying—can you offer any clues, can you at least help save him first…?"

But the innocent mute girl shook her head firmly, refusing to look at Yue Lady Yue Chuzi, who had just spoken for her; beneath her hair, her cheeks revealed a faint, incomprehensible expression—perhaps… guilt?

"Wu wu wu wu—!" The mute girl who had wandered aimlessly through Longcheng all day had finally found her anchor.

"Junior sister, your Digong family paid the price for you—no debt remains between you." Her tone carried deep implication.

Snow Candle, her fox-fur shoulder cape draped, turned aside, eyes closed, back to Yuan Shijie Xiuniang, refusing to look at her.

"Your junior sister just came here too, even went to Mount Lu Ming Street—she's met you several times. She must… must have been helping the junior master search for the Ding Sword. As for why she went to Yue Nan Gorge…"

"Chenjun Xie She… thank you, Miss Zhao." Yue Lady Yue Chuzi's smile was strained. Though still far apart, Snow Candle had already spoken, face rigid:

"Ah…" Yuan Shijie Xiuniang's head sank lower; she walked forward obediently.

But the next moment, seeing her mute junior sister's desolate, blank expression, Snow Candle frowned slightly.

Just as Chenjun Xie Lingjiang furrowed her brow in confusion—

The famed Magistrate Ouyang Rong, Chenjun Xie Lingjiang, was actually a mute girl—and worse… a left-hand amputee? Such a pitiful creature?

"You finally remembered to show up?"

"Stop excusing yourself. You're not allowed to see him. Come with me. After we settle matters in Longcheng, return to Taoyuan—you're not to climb the mountain again." Snow Candle's tone brooked no argument.

The little junior brother's child bride was the legendary Magistrate Ouyang Rong! But wasn't Madam Zhen saying this child bride was a heartless traitor?

She spoke decisively, paused, then suddenly added, as if on a whim: