Chapter 228: The Ending, Brothers (Bonus chapter for the deacon

Wei Wuya is dead.

This leader of the Twelve Zodiacs, the most terrifying figure in the world today, died at the hands of Yu Liancheng just like a big rat.

"The stinking rat died well, died wonderfully." Xiaoyuer clapped his hands in praise, but his brows suddenly furrowed, and he muttered to himself: "This stinking rat was her foster father; now that the stinking rat is dead, I fear she will also be sad and heartbroken. Pfft, why am I thinking about her? It's better if she's sad and heartbroken, so she won't follow me around like a tagalong."

Yao Yue's expression darkened slightly.

As the leader of the Twelve Zodiacs, Wei Wuya's martial arts were already extraordinary. What's more, over these years, he had practiced unique arts diligently specifically to deal with the two sisters.

It was no surprise that Yu Liancheng could kill him.

But no one could have imagined that Wei Wuya would die so quickly, without even surviving a single move.

In a short time apart, this man's martial arts had reached an even higher level.

I fear that even the ninth level of the Mingyu Kung might not be able to overcome him.

"Wei Wuya is dead, you two continue." Yao Yue looked at Hua Wuque and Xiaoyuer with cold eyes, and both of them froze.

"No need." Yu Liancheng suddenly spoke.

"No need for what?" Yao Yue's face sank.

"They do not need to fight any further today."

"You want to stop me?" Yao Yue frowned.

Yu Liancheng waved his hand at Hua Wuque and Xiaoyuer: "You two go down first, I have something to say to them."

Hua Wuque looked at his First Palace Master, originally thinking she would speak to stop it, but unexpectedly, Yao Yue's face was as sunken as water, and she did not speak.

"Let's go quickly, Brother Yu will handle it well." Xiaoyuer had already laughingly pulled Hua Wuque away.

After the two brats had completely left, Yu Liancheng looked at Yao Yue and smiled: "You thought the scheme of letting them kill each other was quite good, didn't you?"

Yao Yue kept a cold face and let out a hum.

Yu Liancheng smiled: "How about this, let's make a bet."

Yao Yue said coldly: "What bet?"

"The gap between Xiaoyuer's and Hua Wuque's martial arts is still too great. If we just let them fight like this, there will only be one outcome: Xiaoyuer dies and Hua Wuque lives. That is truly meaningless."

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Now that Yan Nantian has come out of the Villain's Valley, why don't we set a one-month agreement? Let Yan Nantian coach Xiaoyuer for a month. By then, his martial arts will certainly improve significantly; even if he still cannot compare to Hua Wuque, at least it will be worth watching, at least it will be a true life-and-death struggle."

Yao Yue's eyes flickered, but she had to admit that this proposal was indeed very tempting to her.

Yu Liancheng looked at Lianxing again and smiled: "Xing'er, you don't mind me making a bet on your behalf, do you?"

Lianxing's smile was like a flower: "Whatever bet you want to make for me and my sister is fine, but if you lose, I will be angry."

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Then what will happen if you get angry?"

"I... I will for a year... no, half a year... three months, ignore you." Lianxing pondered for a moment, her beautiful eyes shifting, her red lips smiling, carrying a hint of charm that was soul-stirring.

Yu Liancheng said with confidence: "Rest assured, I have never lost a bet with anyone. But if I win the bet, I want you to kiss me."

"No way, you really are a rascal and a hooligan."

Watching these two flirting, Yao Yue was so angry her face turned green, and her whole person seemed to be shrouded in cold ice.

"Aren't you and Xing'er competing for the position of First Palace Master? One month from now, let Xiaoyuer and Hua Wuque duel; I bet your plan will absolutely not succeed."

Yu Liancheng turned his head and looked at Yao Yue: "If Xing'er loses, she will never compete with you for the position of First Palace Master in her life. Conversely, if you lose, you will let Xing'er sit in the position of First Palace Master. From then on, you must listen to her, just as she used to listen to you."

The two sisters, Yao Yue and Lianxing, could not help but be stunned.

But soon, a sweet smile appeared on Lianxing's face; she had more confidence in Yu Liancheng than in herself.

Yao Yue's expression, however, sank, and a look of contemplation appeared between her brows.

Yu Liancheng smiled slightly: "What? This is a plan you have painstakingly prepared for over a decade; do you not even have confidence in it?"

Yao Yue glared fiercely at Yu Liancheng and gritted her teeth: "Of course I have great confidence in my plan, but I fear certain people will interfere and stir up trouble from within."

Yu Liancheng said: "Rest assured, I will not interfere."

Yao Yue hesitated for a moment: "Fine, I agree."

"As expected of the world-renowned Palace Master Yao Yue, you truly have some decisiveness." Yu Liancheng clapped his hands and smiled, then looked at Lianxing: "Xing'er, in a month, you will be the First Palace Master, and you will have an obedient sister. Are you happy?"

Lianxing's smile became even brighter: "Of course I am extremely happy."

Yao Yue snorted coldly: "I will never lose."

"Good, let's go out." Yu Liancheng smiled: "I will have Xiaoyuer go find Yan Nantian, and you take Hua Wuque to Yihua Palace. In a month, Xiaoyuer and Hua Wuque will duel at my residence."

The three walked out of the "Heaven Beyond Heaven," and among those waiting outside, besides Hua Wuque and Xiaoyuer, there stood a figure standing prettily.

Her features were like a painting, her delicate face like jade, her exquisite lips, though perhaps a bit too large, and her broad forehead, though perhaps a bit too high, but that pair of eyes like the autumn moon and bright stars were enough to compensate for everything.

She might not be considered very beautiful, but she had a peerless elegance that made others feel inferior and afraid to look directly at her.

Yu Liancheng only had to look once to know that this woman must be Su Ying.

Su Ying was Wei Wuya's foster daughter.

And the reason Wei Wuya adopted Su Ying was precisely because he felt her demeanor was similar to the two Palace Masters of Yihua Palace, and he even hid her deep in the secluded valley, granting her every request, and pouring his efforts into cultivating that cold, arrogant, and lofty posture in her.

"Hey, Wei Wuya is dead. From now on, no one will be able to lock you up like a little bird anymore. You can go wherever you want. You and I have no ties, why are you following me?"

Su Ying was charming and moving, clever and cunning. One of Wei Wuya's disciples had even gone so far as to turn against him for her sake.

But Xiaoyuer folded his arms, kept a straight face, and looked cold, seemingly very eager to drive Su Ying away.

Su Ying lowered her head like a young girl who had never seen the world: "But... but I have never left Guishan, and I am afraid of being deceived by others. I only recognize you, and I can only follow you."

Xiaoyuer sneered: "You little ghost, in this world, only you deceive others; how could anyone ever deceive you?"

Su Ying said softly: "But among all the people in the world, I am only willing to deceive you, and I am only willing to be deceived by you alone."

"You... you..." Xiaoyuer stepped back two large paces, as if he could not imagine there was such a bold woman in the world. Saying such words out loud, she wasn't even the least bit shy.

Yu Liancheng laughed aloud: "Good girl, I didn't expect this little fish to finally take the bait. It seems your fishing skills are truly not small."

Xiaoyuer said anxiously: "Nonsense! Pure nonsense! It has always been me, Xiaoyuer, fishing others; there has never been anyone who could fish me."

"Yu Liancheng, see you in a month. Don't go provoking other women again, or I will get jealous."

At this moment, Yao Yue and Lianxing also left with Hua Wuque. Lianxing did not forget to wave at Yu Liancheng, completely ignoring her sister's icy expression.

"Rest assured, I understand," Yu Liancheng also waved his hand.

Xiaoyuer's eyes darted around: "So you and Palace Master Lianxing..."

"What about it?" Yu Liancheng swept a faint glance at him.

Xiaoyuer immediately said: "A talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven, it couldn't be more perfect. Whoever says you aren't a match deserves to have their bottom spanked, one hundred times."

Yu Liancheng said: "Alright, I won't trade barbs with you anymore; I have something to tell you."

Xiaoyuer suddenly straightened his face and looked at Su Ying: "Aren't you very clever? Don't you know that when two men are talking, a woman should walk a bit further away?"

Su Ying's eyes darted around. She said: "Then I shall go for a walk."

"It seems you truly care for her; you are already a little fish that has taken the bait."

Yu Liancheng watched Su Ying walk away and smiled: "You want to beg me to reveal the secret between you and Hua Wuque, so you chased her away to avoid collateral damage. But rest assured, I will never tell this secret; I can only let you discover it yourself."

Xiaoyuer curled his lips: "I just find her an eyesore. Furthermore, whatever I tell her to do, she does. Even if it is taking the bait, she is the one taking my, Xiaoyuer's, bait."

Yu Liancheng smiled: "If she weren't already quite sure of you, how could she be so obedient? If she didn't know you would listen to her in the future, how would she be willing to listen to you?"

Xiaoyuer smiled bitterly: "Brother Yu, what exactly do you want to tell me?" He was eloquent, and it wasn't that he couldn't win an argument, but rather that he didn't quite dare to argue.

Yu Liancheng said: "I have already set a one-month agreement with Yao Yue. One month from now, you and Hua Wuque will conduct a life-or-death duel at my residence."

"What..." Xiaoyuer lost his color: "Could it be that even you, Brother Yu, cannot stop this matter?"

Yu Liancheng said: "I could stop it, but I feel it is better for you to resolve these matters yourself. It is best if Yannantian does not intervene either."

"Uncle Yan!? Has he already recovered?" Xiaoyuer jumped up, his face filled with both surprise and joy. He had been captured by Wei Wuya and had only just learned of Yannantian's news.

"Yes, Yannantian has fully recovered and left Villain's Valley. Go find him to learn martial arts for a month, then come to my residence for the duel. Tell him that you want to resolve this matter yourself."

After saying this, Yu Liancheng's figure had already drifted away.

"What does Brother Yu mean? Could it be that Uncle Yan also knows the secret between me and Hua Wuque?"

Xiaoyuer frowned, but then his face, full of scars, revealed a look of determination, and he puffed out his chest: "But he is right; I should find a way to solve this problem myself. I am already a true man."

The death of Wei Wuya caused quite a stir in the Edo.

Upon hearing this news, Yannantian drank three bowls of wine and let out a sigh.

According to the information he gathered, Hua Wuque had already returned to Yihua Palace. Although Yihua Palace was a forbidden ground of the Wulin where one would surely die upon entering, not many people truly knew the location of Yihua Palace.

Of course, the one he was most concerned about was still Xiaoyuer, but Xiaoyuer had also lost all traces.

"Xiaoyuer, Xiaoyuer, where exactly are you?" Yannantian let out a long sigh.

"Uncle Yan." A voice suddenly rang out.

Yannantian looked up and saw a man and a woman.

The man's face was covered in scars, yet he was handsome and dashing.

The woman, though not exceptionally beautiful, possessed a cold, proud, and aloof charm.

Yannantian looked at the youth, unblinkingly. Although he had never seen Xiaoyuer, he already knew that he must be Jiang Xiaoyu.

Although Jiang Xiaoyu had not seen Yannantian for a long time, he knew that this was Yannantian.

"Very good, very good, very good..." Yannantian looked at Jiang Xiaoyu and repeated the words "very good" over a dozen times. This man, who would not even blink if his arm were chopped off, was now filled with hot tears.

Xiaoyuer's tears were also about to fall, but he did not speak; he simply walked up quickly, knelt down with a "thud," and kowtowed heavily three times.

Yannantian pulled his hand up and said loudly: "I already know everything you have done; you have not shamed your father."

Su Ying watched this scene, her eyes also appearing moist.

After they had talked for a long time, Yannantian's expression turned solemn: "Xiaoyuer, I have a very important matter to tell you."

Xiaoyuer said: "Is Uncle Yan going to tell me the reason why Yao Yue makes Hua Wuque and me kill each other?"

Yannantian nodded: "Correct."

"Please, Uncle Yan, keep the secret; please do not tell me," Xiaoyuer said: "I have decided to uncover this secret myself, no matter what the cost."

Yannantian was stunned, then looked at Xiaoyuer: "Good, you are truly a good child, and a real man."

Xiaoyuer added: "However, there is one thing I want to ask Uncle Yan, a matter closely related to whether I can uncover the secret."

"What matter?"

"Where is Uncle Wan?"

Time passed in a flash, and a month went by quickly.

Yu Liancheng's residence became very lively.

There were many people in the courtyard.

Not only were Hua Wuque, Xiaoyuer, and others there, but there was also a group of decrepit old women and old men, and even the Ninth Miss of Murong Villa had come.

Everyone arrived at a relatively spacious garden where Yu Liancheng had once defeated the three top experts: Yannantian, Lianxing, and Yao Yue. If this news were to spread, I fear this place would become a Wulin Holy Land.

And today, Xiaoyuer and the others would also fight to the death here.

Yannantian said: "The time has come; you may go."

His words seemed to be spoken to Xiaoyuer, but his voice was like a booming bell, and everyone heard it clearly.

Xiaoyuer walked out with a grin; the sunlight shone on his scar-filled face, adding a strange charm to him.

"Wuxue, you go too; I know you will not disappoint me." Yao Yue also spoke slowly, her calm words seemingly carrying a trace of excited trembling.

Hua Wuque walked out slowly; he always looked as gentle as jade and was always polite, so much so that even the most fastidious person could not find a single flaw in him.

The two stood facing each other.

After Yannantian called out once.

The duel had begun.

The world was filled with a sense of murderous intent.

Lianxing looked toward Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng smiled and shook his head, signaling there was no need to worry, just as it had been in the palace at Guishan a month ago.

In the garden, almost everyone was watching Hua Wuque and Xiaoyuer with rapt attention; the two were exchanging blows with increasing intensity.

Having been meticulously trained by Yan Nantian, Xiaoyuer's martial arts had greatly improved. Although he was still no match for Hua Wuque, he unleashed a flurry of brilliant moves that left the onlookers dazzled.

As time passed, the sky grew darker and dark clouds gathered, as if a rainstorm could break at any moment, adding a new variable to the duel.

Soon, three hundred moves had passed.

Hua Wuque struck out with another palm, the force of it extremely fierce.

But he knew that with Xiaoyuer's movement technique, he could dodge it.

When that time came, he would reveal a flaw and let Xiaoyuer kill him.

Crack!

A bolt of lightning fell from the sky.

The world turned white in an instant, and the sound was deafening.

Xiaoyuer was facing the lightning directly; his vision blurred, and appearing to be startled by the flash, his dodging speed slowed.

Hua Wuque had trusted in Xiaoyuer's movement technique and had intentionally overextended this move; by the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late to change his stance.

With a "bang," Xiaoyuer was actually sent flying by his strike.

A cry of alarm rose from all sides, and Yan Nantian swept out, arriving at Xiaoyuer's side.

Xiaoyuer's face was as white as paper, his breathing faint and hanging by a thread; anyone could see that he could not possibly survive.

Hua Wuque stood there like a wooden statue, his mind completely in chaos.

But he remembered Xiaoyuer's instructions, forced himself to steady his mind, and approached Yao Yue, saying in a trembling voice, "Grand... Master, now... can... can you tell me the reason? Why did you insist that I kill Xiaoyuer?"

Yao Yue had already checked Xiaoyuer's pulse and knew he was surely going to die; a cruel smile flickered in her eyes: "Do you know the background of your parents?"

"I..." Hua Wuque said, "Am I not an orphan without father or mother, kindly taken in and raised by my two masters?"

Yao Yue began to laugh, her smile filled with unspeakable triumph and satisfaction: "Wrong, wrong. You are also Jiang Feng's son; you are Xiaoyuer's twin brother. I waited fourteen years, precisely to make you brothers kill each other."

This secret was truly too shocking, like a thunderbolt suddenly falling from a clear sky, stunning everyone into silence.

Yao Yue looked at Yu Liancheng again, extremely triumphant: "I have won; I will always be the First Palace Master."

Yu Liancheng glanced at her, then looked at Lianxing and smiled: "From now on, you are the First Palace Master. To deal with this disobedient Second Palace Master, you can discipline her however you wish."

Lianxing laughed and clapped her hands, giggling: "Good, good. I have long wanted to discipline my sister, but she is my sister after all, so I cannot go too far."

Yao Yue widened her eyes and shouted coldly: "What are you saying? Are you trying to go back on your word?"

"It is not that we are going back on our word, but that you have already lost." Yu Liancheng shook his head.

"You are the ones who lost." Although Yao Yue said this, a flash of realization crossed her mind, and she vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

Xiaoyuer and Yan Nantian were very close, yet aside from appearing somewhat anxious at the very beginning, Yan Nantian was unexpectedly calm.

And the previous anxiety seemed more like a performance.

Thinking about it carefully, this matter seemed to have many suspicious points.

"You woman, you never give up until you see the coffin..." Yu Liancheng shook his head and looked at Xiaoyuer's "corpse": "Little brat, if you don't get up now, I'm going to kick your butt."

Xiaoyuer had already opened his eyes; although his face was a bit pale, he seemed to be in no serious trouble.

He flipped up with a carp-like movement, bowed to Yao Yue, and said with a grin: "Many thanks to the Second Palace Master for clearing things up; Xiaoyuer finally understands everything."

He deliberately emphasized the words "Second Palace Master" to provoke Yao Yue.

But the moment Yao Yue saw Xiaoyuer stand up, it was as if she had been struck by lightning, and she said in disbelief: "You... you..."

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Although you checked Xiaoyuer's pulse, you are not familiar enough with pharmacology. I imagine he finished a pill that induces feigned death refined by the Divine Physician, which is why we have the scene before us."

Yao Yue's body was trembling: "You... you knew all along?"

Yu Liancheng shrugged and said: "How could I not know such a simple matter? You have lost; from now on, you are the Second Palace Master, and Lianxing is the First Palace Master."

"I refuse to accept this!" Yao Yue gritted her teeth.

Yu Liancheng shook his head, said no more, and just gave Lianxing a look.

Lianxing walked up with a smile: "Sister, let go of your grudges. Do not worry about these old matters anymore; let us return to the palace."

"You dare to order me!" Yao Yue shouted coldly.

Lianxing's beautiful face still held a sweet, flawless smile: "I am the First Palace Master, and you are the Second Palace Master; of course I can order you. If you do not obey, then I will have no choice but to display the majesty of the First Palace Master."

After speaking, one of Lianxing's slender hands reached out toward Yao Yue.

"You dare!?" Yao Yue was furious and struck out.

But Lianxing was now able to fully unleash the power of the ninth level of the Mingyu Divine Art, and with Yu Liancheng having given her pointers before the decisive battle, she only used thirty moves to seal Yao Yue's acupoints.

"Goodbye, everyone. Until my sister has completely let go of her grudges, I will not let her leave Yihua Palace." Lianxing giggled and drifted away, carrying Yao Yue.

"A younger sister disciplining an older sister—this is truly interesting. Perhaps I can help out as well." Yu Liancheng rubbed his chin, laughed, and drifted away as well.

"Wait, my second brother's vengeance..." Yan Nantian was about to rush out, but was held back by Xiaoyuer, who pleaded: "Uncle Yan, the Yao Yue of the past is already dead; why must you waste more time on her?"

The moment Xiaoyuer learned the truth, all his hatred had been washed away by joy.

He would play pranks on others and trick them, but he would never learn how to truly hate someone.

And now, he wanted even less for anyone to be hurt or die because of this matter.

Beside him, Hua Wuque hesitated for a moment and said: "Uncle... Uncle Yan, Grand Master did wrong and has already been punished. Since she raised Wuxue, I beg you to spare her life."

Yan Nantian looked at the two of them, remained silent for a long time, and finally sighed deeply: "Lianxing's martial arts are now no worse than mine, and Yu Liancheng is also inclined to protect the two sisters. Even if I wanted to take revenge, what could I do?"

All grievances had been set aside; all had reached their Liaojie.

The dark clouds gradually dispersed, and the sky began to clear.

Xiaoyuer looked at Hua Wuque, clapped his hands, and laughed, "Brother Yu sang a song yesterday; the tune was very strange, and the lyrics were also very strange, but I liked it very much. Do you want to hear it?"

Hua Wuque smiled and nodded.

"A pair of birds, meeting in the sky. A cup of wine, washing away the rights and wrongs. Two pairs of legs, treading over a thousand mountains and ten thousand waters, never feeling tired. Even if we don't return, we still converge in a foreign land..."

PS: Begging for monthly votes, still short by over three hundred to reach three thousand, let's round it off.