Hua Yan stood there, dumbfounded. Before she could answer, Xie Yingxian had already figured it out. He strolled with his hands behind his back, not forcing her, “If you still want to stay and play around, it’s fine to linger a few more days, but ultimately, you’ll have to leave.”
Xie Yingxian spoke nonchalantly, but Hua Yan suddenly felt a jolt, as if someone had abruptly awakened her from a beautiful dream.
Her face fell.
Seeing this, Xie Yingxian spoke pragmatically, “If you go to Dongfeng Buye Tower and buy a Jianghu manual, you’ll see in the Wulin Extermination List that you haven’t changed your appearance or disguised yourself. Your identity isn’t watertight. The reason you haven’t been discovered is simply because you are with Lu Chengsha, and he doesn’t suspect you. Yu Ye also hasn’t exposed you—staying longer will only hand more leverage to him. Even if he’s not the one, there are many disciples in the sect who have seen you. If any of them get captured and spill the beans, you’ll become the target of everyone’s ire. If you die too quickly, I might not even be able to save you.”
Although Hua Yan wanted to argue, she knew in her heart that Xie Yingxian was right.
She wasn’t foolish. Even though she kept reassuring herself, she hadn’t done anything wrong, she…
“Even if you claim to be a good person who hasn’t committed any heinous crimes, as long as you are labeled a demoness by them, no one will believe you.”
Hua Yan fumed, “Can you stop reading my mind!”
Xie Yingxian innocently replied, “Who told you to wear your heart on your sleeve?” He pondered a bit more, “By the way, the fact that you haven’t been discovered yet could mean that Lu Chengsha is either a fool or has fallen deeply in love with you. Even if he has suspicions, he would subconsciously choose to ignore them. So, which one is it? You must know.”
Hua Yan’s face immediately flushed red.
“Why are you asking so much!”
Xie Yingxian already had a clue. He smiled knowingly and said, “You’re at that age, but…” his tone suddenly shifted, “Young Miss, don’t blame me for not warning you—don’t fall too deeply.”
Hua Yan blinked, not understanding his meaning.
Xie Yingxian paused, surprised that their holy maiden could be so dense. Though he showed no reaction, he felt both amused and exasperated inside. But he still had to say what needed to be said, “You know the relationship between us and Tingjian Manor. Neither you nor he can sustain this relationship for long. It’s fine to play around, but remember, you must part ways eventually—otherwise, nowhere under the heavens will accept you.”
Hua Yan was startled by his solemn words.
How could it be that exaggerated? Aren’t things going well now?
She thought Xie Yingxian was being overly dramatic. After a moment of silence, she said, “I think Tingjian Manor treats him badly. That old manor lord, Lu Zhenxing, is really harsh! He hasn’t done anything wrong, yet Tingjian Manor still mistreats him… um… Sect Leader, do you think he could leave Tingjian Manor and join our sect?”
“Elder Qu would probably die on the spot.” Xie Yingxian laughed immediately, his tone unperturbed, “If you have the ability, you can try, but I think… it’s very difficult.”
Although he had never met him, from Hua Yan’s descriptions and various rumors in Jianghu, Xie Yingxian could roughly sketch out the image of Lu Chengsha.
Clearly, he was not someone who was flexible or adaptable in his thinking.
Moreover, what Xie Yingxian didn’t mention to Hua Yan was that if Lu Chengsha were truly misled by love to such an extent, his fate would be tragic, extremely tragic.
Hua Yan also knew it would be difficult, so she only mentioned it casually.
Great Hero Lu was best suited to remain Great Hero Lu of Tingjian Manor, a prestigious name in the righteous path, both glorious and dignified when spoken of.
Thinking about it now was indeed too headache-inducing.
The two continued to walk and talk, eventually reaching a stone house. Inside, it was fully furnished, with even bedding and tea sets, perhaps better than the rooms in an inn.
Xie Yingxian, familiar with the place, climbed onto the bed, found a comfortable position to lean on, and remained as lazy as ever.
It seemed he had been staying here for some time.
Xie Yingxian sighed, “I still feel like I’m in prison.”
Hua Yan looked around and couldn’t help but ask, “Is this…”
Xie Yingxian explained, “Like our sect, there’s a tunnel. In case of a life-or-death crisis one day, it provides an escape route, just in case. Hidden underwater, it’s quite innovative and worth noting.”
Hua Yan asked, “Why is Nian Yi helping you? No, why is he colluding with our sect?”
Xie Yingxian raised an eyebrow, “Colluding sounds too harsh.”
Hua Yan quickly corrected herself but remained puzzled, “Alright, why is he cooperating with us? Isn’t he supposed to be a good person?”
He was known for his compassion, benevolence, medical skills, and saving lives. His reputation in Jianghu was excellent.
Xie Yingxian laughed at her words, “That’s a rather naive question.”
Hua Yan retorted, “How so?”
Xie Yingxian replied, “There’s no such thing as purely good or bad people in this world. Let me ask you, if a person is an assassin, taking money to eliminate targets without hesitation, but in his daily life, he rescues innocent victims he encounters and generously helps the poor, is he a good person or a bad person?”
Hua Yan was stunned.
Xie Yingxian smiled, “See, you can’t answer either.”
Her father had never mentioned this, and in the stories, good and bad people were always clearly distinguished. Hua Yan felt a bit dazed, as if she had been led into a trap by his words but couldn’t argue against it.
“So, how does the saying ‘good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished’ apply?”
Xie Yingxian straightened up slightly. On the bed, there was a small table with a tea set on it. He poured some tea from the teapot, dipped his finger in the water, and lazily divided the table into two sections. “Then, count each matter separately. Good deeds will be rewarded, and evil deeds will have consequences, each clearly accounted for.”
Finally, he said, “No matter what a person does, they must always be prepared for the consequences that follow.”
“Right or wrong.”
Seeing that she was still deep in thought, Xie Yingxian laughed, “Even I am always prepared for the possibility of ending up in a ditch, head separated from body. Of course, I don’t plan on dying yet. That’s why I’m making efforts to turn over a new leaf—by only killing those in the righteous path.”
Hua Yan, who had been lost in thought, couldn’t help but laugh out loud at this. “Isn’t that the same thing?”
“Of course, it’s different. They kill us, we kill them. That’s the relationship between us and the righteous path,” Xie Yingxian explained. “I would never let myself be at their mercy, waiting to be slaughtered. Do you think we lose few people to the righteous path every year? The conflict between us and the righteous path is more about different stances than about good and evil. To change the current situation, there would need to be a significant catalyst.”
This was something both he and Yu Ye were working on.
However, he had always disdained Yu Ye’s methods, and he still did.
Hua Yan decided not to ask him about this.
She changed the subject, “What are you and Nian Yi cooperating on?”
Xie Yingxian relaxed back into his position, “Gu and people. I won’t go into details, but it’s not anything bad.”
Hua Yan thought about it and realized that the Zhengyi Sect had always been interested in the Gu of the Cixin Valley. As for the people, she wasn’t sure.
“What kind of person is Nian Yi, anyway?”
At this point, Xie Yingxian was also curious, “Are you too concerned about him?”
Hua Yan felt a bit embarrassed about voicing her suspicions and said vaguely, “I just want to hear some gossip. I heard he had two wives once and wanted to understand what’s going on…”
Xie Yingxian was speechless for a while. He had little interest in this and couldn’t understand Hua Yan’s fascination.
“He managed to build Cixin Valley in such a short time without dying, which shows he has some skill. So, his principles aren’t deep, nor is he very pedantic. When I met him, there were at least thirty experts hidden around him, including a grandmaster-level one. Quite interesting. The rest you can find out for yourself.” Xie Yingxian waved his hand at her, “Go back to sleep early. You should know the way, so I won’t see you off.”
Hua Yan was also a bit sleepy, “Then you be careful.”
Xie Yingxian lazily said, “You should be careful. Watch out for Yu Ye. If you change your mind and want to come with me, look for Ning Yin. She’ll be disguised up there for the next few days. The righteous path only searches men, so they won’t suspect her.”
Hua Yan nodded and was about to leave when Xie Yingxian suddenly called her back.
“Hold out your hand.”
Hua Yan did as she was told, and Xie Yingxian placed a small medicine bottle in her hand. She couldn’t help but ask, “What is this?”
Xie Yingxian replied, “The antidote to Yu Ye’s poison. Once you take it, your internal energy will be restored.”
Hua Yan was shocked, “How did you get this!”
She immediately opened the bottle, revealing a single pill inside. She sniffed it and could vaguely discern a few of the ingredients. Previously, without knowing the exact dosage and sequence of the poison, it had been necessary to painstakingly test the antidote by drawing blood, making it difficult to create. But now, it seemed she had a permanent solution.
Xie Yingxian’s eyes narrowed with a sly and cunning smile, “Yu Ye has people planted by my side. Did you think I wouldn’t have people planted by his?” He suddenly paused and then sighed, “Forget it, just take it.”
Hua Yan clutched the empty bottle, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
Xie Yingxian rubbed his forehead, “Anyway, since Lu Chengsha likes you so much, he won’t suspect anything.”
Hua Yan blushed at his words and retorted, “How do you know that?”
Xie Yingxian thought to himself, “You might be clueless, but I’m not. I don’t just know he likes you; I also know that you…” He let his gaze linger on Hua Yan’s flushed cheeks for a moment, then suddenly reached out and pinched her cheek, saying, “Since you like him, make good use of your time.”
Hua Yan made a confused sound, “Hmm?” and after a while, she finally broke free from Xie Yingxian’s grasp.
“You, you…”
She took a step back, stammering without finishing her sentence.
Her big eyes blinked rapidly, and she stood there, dazed. Suddenly feeling a bit dizzy, she stumbled out. It wasn’t until her feet touched water that she realized she had wandered far.
A moment of clarity pierced through her muddled mind.
Hua Yan dove into the water and pushed against the large stone in front of her. To her surprise, it moved easily.
She paused again, swimming quite a distance before realizing her internal energy had been restored. It felt as if all her meridians had been cleared, with warm energy flowing to her limbs, filling her with strength. The internal energy given by others felt like it was temporarily stored within her, available for use but not truly hers. Her own energy, however, was solid and endlessly replenishing.
Normally, upon regaining her internal energy, Hua Yan would joyfully leap across rooftops.
But now, her mind was consumed by a single thought—so, I like Great Hero Lu too?
Emerging from the water in a daze, Hua Yan didn’t pay attention to where she was. She dried her clothes off quickly, her thoughts wandering. No wonder she always blushed when thinking about Great Hero Lu, no wonder she didn’t mind being close to him and felt her heart race, no wonder the more she learned about him, the happier she felt, and no wonder she was so delighted to know he liked her too—
Everything made sense now.
In the tranquil night of Cixin Valley, the gentle breeze blew under a star-filled sky. The roadsides were adorned with delicate white flowers and countless colorful blooms, all emitting a refreshing fragrance. The cicadas’ chirping was pleasant to the ears. Even the scent of mud and water plants she brought from the pond seemed to carry a fresh aroma. She stepped on the ground with a spring in her step.
Feeling an inexplicable excitement, she even wanted to rush to Great Hero Lu right now.
But even if she did, she wasn’t sure what she would say—and at this hour, he was likely already asleep.
Her mind filled with chaotic thoughts, her heart inexplicably beat faster.
She placed a hand on her chest, feeling her heart pound. Just thinking of Lu Chengsha’s name made her want to laugh, bringing a joyful feeling. She silently repeated his name in her mind, still finding it hard to believe—was this what it felt like to like someone?
When Shui Se had asked her before, she thought she liked Yu Ye.
But this was different, completely different.
She had never felt this way towards Yu Ye. She and her father both knew Yu Ye was a good person, and naturally, she thought she should like him. But now she realized her feelings for Yu Ye were no different from her feelings for Xie Yingxian, Ning Yin, or even Qi Xiusi. She was even grateful to Yu Ye now; if it weren’t for his affair with Shui Se, she wouldn’t have had the chance to escape, nor the chance to meet Lu Chengsha.
As she was thinking, she suddenly heard someone call her name.
Turning her head, she saw a familiar, gentle face. He was calling her, “Yan’er.”
Hua Yan was startled, as if seeing a ghost in the middle of the night, and she even took a step back in fear.
Only Yu Ye was around, dressed in a spotless moon-white robe, his face as pure as snow, standing tall and elegant like an immortal under the moon. Seeing her reaction, Yu Ye’s expression was gentle yet helpless, with a hint of hurt, “Yan’er, why are you so afraid of me?”
Everything about you is terrifying!
“Did you just see Xie Yingxian? What did he say to you?” Yu Ye sighed softly.
Hua Yan understood; he was here to gather information about Xie Yingxian. She immediately responded, “I don’t know. Move aside.”
Yu Ye seemed even more hurt, lowering his eyelashes as he said, “For so many years, have I not treated you as well as Xie Yingxian has? Why, in the end, do you still only side with him? What exactly…” His voice trembled slightly, “…makes me inferior to him?”
Hua Yan couldn’t stand it anymore.
With no one else around, she spoke directly, “Stop pretending, okay? You weren’t like this when you were secretly meeting with Shui Se, and you weren’t like this when you were in power and enjoying your success. And why compare yourself to Xie Yingxian? He’s never lied to me. Have you ever told me a single truth?” Honestly, she didn’t care anymore. In fact, she was in such a good mood that she didn’t even feel much resentment towards Yu Ye.
Of course, it would be even better to see him have some bad luck!
Yu Ye’s expression changed slightly but quickly reverted to its previous state. He forced a somewhat awkward smile and said, “Why do you think I’m pretending? If not like this, then what am I like? Everyone clearly likes me this way.”
“I admit, I used Shui Se. I’m sorry, Yan’er, but I never had feelings for her.”
“I have too little. If I don’t hold on tightly, I’ll have nothing…” He looked up, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “If I told you everything honestly, would you still like me then?”
But Hua Yan was no longer the Hua Yan of the past!
Now she knew what it meant to like someone!
Hua Yan remained unmoved, her expression blank as she said, “…But I never liked you in the first place!”
As she spoke, Hua Yan suddenly remembered she had her internal energy back and could fight again. She immediately rolled up her sleeves, thinking that she had to beat him up first to make up for the last time.