Chapter 149: Can They Even Be Reconciled?

Long Xiaoyun stood in place, but gave the impression he had already left.

Gu Qing's arrival completely reversed the situation.

On Long Xiaoyun's side were the Eight Righteous Men of the Central Plains and Hu the Madman; now, the Eight Righteous Men had clearly switched sides.

Hu the Madman, though not ranked among the Top Weapons, clearly possessed top-tier strength, yet he looked down on Long Xiaoyun—he had seized Li Xunhuan and stood guard nearby, which was already his limit; expecting him to do more was impossible.

Thus, Long Xiaoyun had no options left.

"Is this using the enemy's own method against him?"

Thinking of the Eight Righteous Men's betrayal, Long Xiaoyun said, "Gu Qing, just lay out your terms outright."

Long Xiaoyun was out of options; if pain had degrees, this moment—his arm injured, his schemes failed—was the most agonizing.

"I like to mediate disputes."

Gu Qing smiled and said, "I've resolved the feud between the Eight Righteous Men and Tie Chuanjia, so I'd like to resolve the hatred between you and Li Xunhuan—let you two remain good brothers."

Long Xiaoyun stared at Gu Qing in astonishment—could reconciliation even be possible?

Gu Qing ordered the Eight Righteous Men to bring a table, ink, and brushes, placing them before Long Xiaoyun.

"Many things become clear once spoken aloud."

Gu Qing gestured for both Li Xunhuan and Long Xiaoyun to sit, then said, "Long Xiaoyun, your suffering stems from Lin Shiyin. After meeting her, you began to suffer; even after marrying her, you still suffered."

Long Xiaoyun's face darkened as he watched Gu Qing place paper and brush before him.

"So write a divorce letter—you'll end your suffering completely."

Gu Qing tapped the table and said, "Afterward, you, Long Xiaoyun, break free from Lin Shiyin's chains, shed your pain, and become once more a great hero of the Jianghu."

Gu Qing's reasoning was sound.

Long Xiaoyun turned his eyes, glaring hatefully at Li Xunhuan.

If this divorce letter were written, wouldn't Li Xunhuan just take Lin Shiyin for himself?

Li Xunhuan turned his face away.

"I understand both your considerations."

Gu Qing continued, "After Long Xiaoyun writes the divorce letter, Li Xunhuan and Lin Shiyin will naturally come together—but because of this, you two will no longer be able to remain brothers. So I'm prepared to make a sacrifice."

"Here's the situation: if Long Xiaoyun divorces her, Lin Shiyin will go to Li Xunhuan. But I've also saved Li Xunhuan's life. As his friend who saved his life, and knowing Li Xunhuan's reckless nature toward friendship, I'll grow pale and thin, lose all will to live—Li Xunhuan will then be forced to drink, gamble, and chase women, leaving Lin Shiyin to care for me, and she'll grow disillusioned with him."

This was a proven, reliable path.

When Li Xunhuan and Long Xiaoyun heard this, both felt deeply uncomfortable, desperate for Gu Qing to stop—but they could only listen as he pressed on.

"Rest assured, I'll take responsibility for caring for Lin Shiyin."

"Without Lin Shiyin, Li Xunhuan and Long Xiaoyun become close friends—isn't that the perfect outcome?"

Gu Qing's proposal was a flawless ending.

Li Xunhuan, valuing friendship, preserved it; Long Xiaoyun, trapped in suffering, escaped it; as for Gu Qing… it was merely an added duty.

Hu the Madman and the Eight Righteous Men exchanged glances, utterly astonished that Gu Qing had devised such a method to resolve their feud.

Upon reflection, it truly could resolve the hatred.

But each step led Lin Shiyin straight into Gu Qing's hands.

"The logic is this."

Yi Minghu, one of the Eight Righteous Men with eyes but no insight, said, "But this isn't righteous—you're betraying your friend."

A true friend shouldn't covet his friend's wife.

He certainly shouldn't pressure his friend to give her up.

"Long Xiaoyun is my benchmark."

Gu Qing said matter-of-factly, "Besides, Li Xunhuan hasn't objected."

Only then did Yi Minghu understand why Gu Qing had set Long Xiaoyun as his benchmark—it was a precedent.

Long Xiaoyun's face flushed crimson with rage.

At this moment, Li Xunhuan closed his eyes, his face ashen.

Gu Qing was truly cutting into their wounds.

"Write it!"

Gu Qing slammed the table and shouted at Long Xiaoyun, "If you don't write, I'll beat you!"

"I won't repeat the folly of the past!"

Li Xunhuan suddenly opened his eyes and shouted, "I won't hand Shiyin over to anyone either!"

"Oh?"

Gu Qing's expression darkened, his voice thundering, "You'd abandon our friendship?! You're utterly unrighteous!"

Li Xunhuan smiled—gently, his face still pale—and said, "Some things lie beyond the bounds of righteousness."

Li Xunhuan had long understood many things, but the damage was done, irreversible. Now that things had reached this point, he had nothing left to lose… after all, Gu Qing had previously detained him and forced him to spend an entire night talking with Lin Shiyin.

Li Xunhuan would never repeat that mistake.

When Long Xiaoyun heard this, his face turned grim as water—if Li Xunhuan truly sought to reclaim everything, Long Xiaoyun had no power to resist.

Gu Qing smiled at Li Xunhuan, then moved to unseal his acupoints; Hu the Madman stood nearby, watching but making no move to interfere.

"I've made many friends, but I always give advice—and never listen to any of it. Take drinking: many have urged me to stop."

Once his body moved again, Li Xunhuan said calmly, "But I've never listened to anyone—except you, Gu Qing. You're the only friend among them who's ever pushed me to change… and today I've realized that changing oneself requires even greater courage."

Li Xunhuan acknowledged Gu Qing as a friend.

"Heh…"

Gu Qing looked at Li Xunhuan, and they exchanged smiles; then Gu Qing tapped the table and gestured to Long Xiaoyun, "No need to write the divorce letter."

"What?"

Li Xunhuan stopped smiling.

Long Xiaoyun's frozen expression turned nearly vacant.

"If Lin Shiyin has nothing to do with me anymore, then why should Long Xiaoyun write a divorce letter?"

Gu Qing smiled at Li Xunhuan, "Besides, Xiao Yun disagrees with this."

Having lost his chance to enter the bridal chamber, Gu Qing immediately began dismantling his own scheme.

Li Xunhuan thought of Long Xiaoyun—and stopped smiling entirely.

"Carry on."

Gu Qing rose to leave; only when he left could the tension here reignite.

A faint smile crept onto Long Xiaoyun's face—he had Li Xunhuan in his grasp. Once Gu Qing was gone, he'd immediately retract his consent and leave Li Xunhuan helpless.

"Wait."

Li Xunhuan called out.

Gu Qing turned back to him.

"You helped me untie my heart's knot—can you help Fei?"

Li Xunhuan said.

After refusing to give up Lin Shiyin, Li Xunhuan felt lighter; thinking of Fei still tormented by Lin Xian'er, he turned to Gu Qing: "If you're willing to help, I'll agree to any one thing you ask—unconditionally."

Li Xunhuan had always carried a savior complex; in the original story, at this very moment, he unconditionally agreed to Lu Fengxian's request to eliminate Lin Xian'er—only for Lu Fengxian to fall into her trap, and Lin Lingling to be killed.

Now, seeing Gu Qing as trustworthy, Li Xunhuan wanted him to rescue Fei.

"Does this include Lin Shiyin?"

Gu Qing brought up the old matter again.

Li Xunhuan went numb.

(End of Chapter)