Wen Shubai’s snow-white sword vanished from his palm as his warm, large hand firmly grasped Chu Weiliang’s in return.
With silk gauze fluttering from his hair and his daughter held in his other arm, he openly held his new disciple’s hand, turning to leave amidst the crowd.
Chu Weiliang: “…”
She looked down at her hand.
She had never held hands with a man before.
Now she wanted to pull away, but felt embarrassed to publicly reject her Master’s gesture.
For the first time in her life, someone had stood up for her – not only confronting everyone and everything on her behalf, but doing so without her having to ask.
Actually, it felt quite nice.
Like a child who had never tasted candy, the slightest sweetness was enough to satisfy her.
Moreover, since Blind Wen held her hand with such calm familiarity, if she acted shy and hesitant, it would only make her seem like she had impure thoughts.
So she mentally reassured herself: The Master is an elder, holding his disciple’s hand is perfectly normal.
Perhaps every master in the world is different – this particular one might just be more approachable and fond of hand-holding.
She quickened her pace to keep up with Wen Shubai’s long strides. “Master, what was that sword technique you used to subdue Feng Xi? Can you teach me later?”
“Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin. I’ll teach you once you comprehend the sword path.”
Ten Thousand Swords…
These two words touched the most painful place in Chu Weiliang’s heart.
Wen Shubai pretended not to notice, continuing in his drawn-out manner, “After learning Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin, you can avoid being pierced by ten thousand swords, having your soul scattered, and dying without a complete corpse—!”
Chu Weiliang: “…”
Just after being nice, he starts stabbing at her heart!
Fang Jixue watching silently in the distance: “…”
…
Only after Wen Shubai had swaggered away did Fang Jixue speak with extreme calm:
“Hall Master of Law Enforcement, please escort the Princess to rest within the Hall of Law Enforcement. Do not treat her discourteously.”
His voice was unhurried, yet carried a suppressed violence that was all directed at An Nanchan.
An Nanchan couldn’t help trembling.
Was Fang Jixue really going to interrogate her?
The Thousand Machines Sect’s punishments were notoriously severe, feared throughout Northern Xuan.
Those methods weren’t meant for humans – they were for punishing Monsters!
She had witnessed how hard and cold Fang Jixue’s heart could be, despite his seemingly gentle and pristine appearance.
The previous Chu Weiliang had been the perfect example.
But she never imagined these things would one day befall her.
She panicked.
Fortunately, Wen Shubai had already left, taking his overwhelming pressure with him.
An Nanchan rushed toward Fang Jixue with infinite grievance:
“Master! I didn’t do anything! I’m innocent…! This is all Chu Weiliang’s scheme! She must be behind this! She wants to frame me, to get revenge for what happened a thousand years ago!”
A thousand years ago…
These four words grated painfully in Fang Jixue’s ears.
He slightly shifted his body, not letting even a corner of his robe touch her.
“Our master-disciple relationship has ended. The Holy Maiden has personally witnessed this matter. There’s no need to address me as Master anymore.”
Seeing that the Sect Leader showed no favoritism, the Hall Master of Law Enforcement immediately became stern and impartial, leading his men to surround An Nanchan.
“If Your Highness cooperates with the Hall of Law Enforcement’s investigation, we can still treat you with courtesy. If you truly haven’t done anything, the Sect Leader will naturally find the real mastermind and clear your name.”
An Nanchan stood awkwardly in place. Seeing the situation had reached this point, she quickly changed her mindset, composed herself, and forced a smile to save face:
“The Elder of Law Enforcement is correct. After all, I am not Chu Weiliang. I am innocent and have done nothing wrong. I believe Jixue will surely uphold justice for me.”
As she spoke, she cast a gentle and moving glance toward Fang Jixue.
“Jixue, although our wedding today was not completed, in my heart, I already consider myself your wife. I will always prioritize you and never cause you any trouble.”
Fang Jixue turned his head upon hearing this, offering a rare smile.
“Princess, you have suffered. Once tonight’s matter is clarified and your innocence is proven, our wedding will surely be completed.”
The implication was clear: if she were not innocent, things would be different.
An Nan Chan suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold.
Was he trying to take advantage of the situation to deny the half-finished wedding?
With the wedding indefinitely postponed, he would not protect her, nor would he show her any favoritism.
An Nan Chan’s heart twisted in fury.
Tonight should have been her grand wedding, the day her dreams came true, yet she had been framed by that scourge Chu Weiliang, tainted by an unjust accusation.
Indeed, in the Thousand Machines Sect, whenever Chu Weiliang appeared, no one paid any attention to An Nan Chan—not even when it came to wrongdoing.
The moment Chu Weiliang returned, she shamelessly drew all attention to herself, even managing to cling to the Sword Sovereign.
And An Nan Chan, who should have been the star of the night, no matter how hard she tried, ended up looking like a clown.
Fang Jixue’s heart was either empty or reserved solely for Chu Weiliang!
Even after a thousand years of scheming to become his bride, she could never reach that place!
How could she not hate?!
How could she not go mad?!
An Nan Chan shot a sharp glance at her two personal maids who had accompanied her as part of the dowry.
The maids quickly understood their mistress’s intention and quietly slipped away.
The Hall of Law Enforcement escorted An Nan Chan away.
Not long after, the clamor of a banquet from the Brahma Heaven Palace echoed from afar.
Wen Shubai’s hearty laughter rang out, exceptionally cheerful, as if deliberately carried far to reach Fang Jixue’s ears.
The members of the Thousand Machines Sect all wore grim expressions.
Especially the few elders who had narrowly survived a thousand years ago—they understood all too well.
Chu Weiliang, though a scourge, was also a treasure.
Not only was she exceptionally talented, but given time, her achievements would surely astonish the world once more.
Moreover, she was a once-in-a-millennium Cauldron, the ultimate shortcut to cultivation that any man would desire.
Back then, if not for that major event, how could the Thousand Machines Sect have let such a valuable asset slip into outsiders’ hands?
And now, the Brahma Heaven Palace had taken her for nothing.
The Elder of Transmission approached Fang Jixue and whispered in consolation:
“Sovereign, there is no need to dwell on these trivial matters. A Liang is currently nothing more than a remnant soul attached to a Peach Wood Puppet. In the future, when her soul and body are reunited, her master will undoubtedly be you, and only you.”
Fang Jixue, holding the Azurefall Sword upside down, remained silent. His figure appeared infinitely desolate as he walked toward the Demon Suppression Tower.
“I will go in and take a look. Handle the aftermath here.”
“Sovereign… be careful…”
The elders hesitated, exchanging knowing glances before allowing him to enter.
As Fang Jixue stepped into the Demon Suppression Tower, the once cacophonous tower fell so silent that the drop of a needle could be heard.
Then—Awoooowahhh…!
The little demons and monsters near the entrance began screaming and scattering in panic.
Crack! A sharp explosion echoed.
Fang Jixue’s cold, slender sword in his hand abruptly transformed into an azure whip, and the surroundings instantly plunged back into deathly silence.
The monsters all froze in place, not daring to move a muscle, terrified that the slightest sound might provoke this man and lead to a gruesome fate under his lash.
Fang Jixue’s originally refined and noble face was distorted by the azure glow. Horrific scars, seeping with fresh blood, sprawled across his entire visage, winding down his neck as if half his body had once been brutally torn apart by something. Though he had fought fiercely for half a day without a speck of dust on him, his wedding robes were now soaked in blood, yet he paid it no mind.
These were wounds suffered a thousand years ago on the Sin Cleansing Platform. He never sought to heal them, allowing them to cover his body, tormenting his flesh day and night.
“Run. Why aren’t you running?”
“Don’t you like being kept like this?”
“Have I been too lenient with you lately?”
Fang Jixue stood like a jade tree drenched in blood, his three casual remarks uttered with deceptive calm. Yet, across all nine levels of the Demon Suppression Tower, every monster fell into a silence more suffocating than death, as if their throats had been seized.
Dragging the azure whip, he hung his head, his long hair cascading over one shoulder, trudging wearily through the filth and rivers of blood that littered the tower floor, heading deeper inside. Even the powerful demons, trembling in fear, scrambled away on all fours.
As he passed the cage that once held Feng Xi, Fang Jixue didn’t spare a glance, continuing forward with lowered head until his steps abruptly halted.
Far in the deepest recesses, amidst the horde of monsters, stood a crystal tank large enough for two or three people to turn around in, its bottom paved with pearls.
“I’m back… Keep me company,” he murmured, exhausted but forcing his voice to soften, not wanting to frighten that person.
Yet, his words received no response.
Lifting his gaze, he saw the crystal tank shimmering with rippling water and gleaming pearls—but it was empty. On the ground outside, a trail of water droplets led away, toward the exit.
“Where is she?! Where did she go?!!”
Fang Jixue’s eyes abruptly flushed crimson, his black hair and blood-soaked wedding robes billowing violently as his roar echoed through the Demon Suppression Tower.
Outside, in a side hall of the Brahma Heaven Palace, a lively banquet was in full swing.
By the pond outside, the hem of wide, wave-like azure robes flashed by soundlessly.
Wen Shubai, buoyed by joyous occasions, remained sober despite a thousand cups.
Chu Weiliang stood beside him, her mind preoccupied with other matters, growing increasingly impatient.
Noticing this, Wen Shubai suddenly grew displeased.
“Come here.”
“What?”
“Shouldn’t my disciple drink a few cups for her master?”
“Oh.”
Confident in her alcohol tolerance, Chu Weiliang took the cup and downed it in one go.
Then…
Her mind went blank, her body stiffened, and she toppled straight forward.
Wen Shubai, unsurprised, caught her by the waistband of her robes, holding her suspended at an angle.
Wooden puppet… can’t handle… liquor…