Love & Redemption
Chapter 99: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji - 6 Change (6)

Chapter 99: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji Chapter 6 Change (6)

Manager Ouyang bowed his head in silence, while Lady Dongfang, surrounded by disciples, although no one dared lay a hand on her, could not dream of taking half a step away. Out of desperation, she cried, "My lord! Why do you treat me this way!"

Dongfang Qingqi, as if he hadn’t heard her complaint, only looked at Ouyang and said in a low voice, "I treated you as a brother, but you stabbed me in the back. Might as well tell me the whole story. Why did you do it?"

After a long silence, Ouyang finally spoke softly, "Humans and demons follow separate paths; where is the need for so many whys? Twelve years ago, you saved me, and I have served you faithfully, repaying that debt. Now that the debt is repaid, we have no more ties."

"You’re a demon?!" Not just Dongfang Qingqi, but everyone present was shocked.

Ouyang spoke indifferently, "What, finding out I am a demon makes all this seem justified? I stole your wife and took away a criminal... simply because I am a demon... This outcome should be something you can accept."

"Mr. Ouyang! You mustn’t..." Pian Pian couldn’t help but interject, only to be interrupted by a wave of Dongfang Qingqi’s hand.

"I do not recall saving you, so I do not owe you any debts of gratitude. However, you have worked tirelessly for Fuyu Island over the past ten years, which I am thankful for. I can let you go this time, but this person cannot be taken with you."

Dongfang Qingqi pointed toward the person hunching behind Ouyang, draped in sackcloth, completely unrecognizable.

Groping for the injury on his back, Ouyang clenched his teeth and yanked out the iron arrow, tossing it to the ground and spilling blood all over. Lady Dongfang, in the back, couldn’t help but let out a startled cry of pity, calling out to him, "Tong Lang... are you okay?"

Ouyang gazed steadily at Dongfang Qingqi and said indifferently, "He has been imprisoned by your people for so many years; it’s time for him to see the light of day. According to your human reasoning, I shouldn’t have wronged you, as you once showed me kindness. But I have spent ten years repaying your kindness, and now we are like strangers. I must take him with me, and as for killing or flaying me, that is your prerogative."

Having said that, he lifted the person up, pointed his toe to the ground, and surprisingly floated up, shooting three to four feet into the air in the blink of an eye. Dongfang Qingqi could not let him escape from under his nose and immediately drew his treasure sword named Jinghong, which could change length and shape at will. In the past on Lutai Mountain, he had wounded the Heavenly Dog and Gu Diao with this sword.

Ouyang, seeing a cold light piercing toward his back, knew the danger was great. He didn’t dare to collide with it and instead performed a light spin in midair, dodging it. Suddenly, he heard Lady Dongfang’s resentful voice from below, "Tong Lang, are you really going to leave me behind? Have you forgotten what you promised?"

He was abruptly taken aback and his movement stalled in midair, giving Dongfang Qingqi the opportunity to exploit the opening. With a flick of the wrist, the sword twisted like a dragon slithering, forcibly turning its direction. Ouyang was too late to dodge, and the hand holding the person was struck by Jinghong, causing his fingers to instantly lose their strength. The person dropped straight down, to be unexpectedly caught by Pian Pian, who then froze in shock—this person was silent and motionless, and his body was as heavy as iron, almost slipping from her grasp.

Seeing the person taken, Ouyang immediately landed to seize him back. Dongfang Qingqi drew his sword and the two fought fiercely, but Ouyang’s body felt soft and yielding, with the sword slipping off as if it had struck a solid layer of oil. Dongfang Qingqi had treated him like a brother for ten years and pitied his lack of martial arts skills, often offering to teach him with good intentions, only to be politely refused every time.

Now, he finally understood why he had refused. Ouyang’s movements were light and flexible, even more supple than that of Fuyu Island’s martial arts, with each punch and kick effortless, repelling every attack barehanded. He realized this was Ouyang holding back; as a demon, if Ouyang truly exerted his strength, even a cultivator who had practiced for many years could not bear it. The chasm between mortals and devils was as vast as heaven and earth, with most pursuits in vain, no matter how tirelessly they were chased.

Upon reflecting at this juncture, Dongfang Qingqi suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of irritation and chaos. What in this world could be completely trusted? The wife he loved wholeheartedly had someone else in her heart and had blatantly betrayed him; the man he regarded as a brother had kept secrets from him for ten years and was about to seize the greatest secret of Fuyu Island at his departure. He had practiced cultivation for decades, a sect leader among the Five Great Sects, so glorious and brilliant! Only now did he truly understand the feeling of being a frog in a well.

His mind in turmoil, his moves became disordered, and unawares, Ouyang caught hold of the Jinghong Sword in his hand. Dongfang Qingqi was shocked and immediately tried to pull it back, only to find that Ouyang’s grip was as if cast from iron, unmoving. Seeing things going south, Chu Lei was about to step forward to help, but was sternly stopped by Dongfang Qingqi. In the blink of an eye, Ouyang snatched away the Jinghong Sword and, amidst the cries of shock from the crowd, plunged it into Dongfang Qingqi’s right chest.

"I have offended you!" Ouyang released the Jinghong Sword, pressed his right foot to the ground, and, light as a feather, evaded Chu Lei’s sword. He then forcefully grabbed the person Pian Pian was holding in front of her. Pian Pian had been prepared for his attempt and was determined to hold on even in death, clutching the burlap on the person’s body tightly—only to find that the burlap couldn’t withstand the force and tore with a ripping sound, revealing the person’s face under the moonlight.

He was short and hunched, his body covered with snow-white hair, even his face unrecognizable as male or female, old or young. But what was most frightening wasn’t his appearance; it was the two pitch-black rods as thick as wrist-irons that he was clutching in his hands. The rods were nailed into his feet, and he could only lean on them with his hands; otherwise, the slightest movement would cause excruciating pain.

The crowd hadn’t expected that such a person would be wrapped in the burlap, so miserable were his circumstances, and they were all stunned.

Ouyang scooped up the man, leapt onto the treetops, and said, "The Divine sealed the key to the Sea Stabilizing Iron Chain within him and separated him by ten thousand miles from that person, decreed to never meet again in eternal life. It wasn’t for you mortals to torment him with torture! The sins he committed will be punished by the Divine. What does it have to do with you mortals? I am taking him away today! Farewell!"

"Wait... wait a moment!" Dongfang Qingqi clutched his right chest, where blood gushed from between his fingers. He’d been stabbed in the lung, breathing in agonizing pain, and spoke with great difficulty, "You... speak of torture... Yet of this matter... I was unaware... The ancestral teachings of Fuyu Island... locked in the dungeon is a criminal punished by the Ancient Gods... none may release him... but torture is also forbidden..."

Ouyang did not speak and paused for a moment. Just as he turned to leave, Lady Dongfang’s mournful voice called from below the tree: "Tong Lang! What did you promise me?!"

He halted for a moment, and after a long while, he spoke softly, "My lady, I have failed you. But whom did you truly love? Was it I, this despicable demon, or was it for your cultivation aid, to help you maintain your eternal youth?"

Lady Dongfang never expected such a question and couldn’t help tears welling up in her eyes, her voice trembling, "You... never believed in me. Your words... were just to deceive me into helping you find this person..."

All those romantic notions of mirroring the immortal couple, never parting for eternity, ’till the mountains crumble and the seas dry up, daring to be with your loved one until the end... they were all but her own fanciful illusions. A massive one-woman show. She had awaited it so joyously, planned it so carefully, helping him find this person, bringing them together, bidding farewell to everything past, understanding the true meaning of happiness... only to taste the bitterness of fickleness.

Ouyang whispered, "I have never trusted anyone. Such is the lowly nature of a demon. You might as well hate me."

He sprang into the air, evaded Chu Lei and Pian Pian’s swift-as-lightning swords, and with a flash in the sky, his figure was no longer seen.

Lady Dongfang stared blankly as his silhouette vanished into the night sky, feeling as if her entire world had died. A gentleman so fine, cut, polished, carved, and polished. Strumming lyrics of yearning, exuberant and spirited. A gentleman so fine, whose promises can never be forgotten. Those lingering songs still echoed in her ears; no one believed she had truly fallen for a taciturn demon—like a young girl experiencing her first spring, willing to give up everything for him.

Yet this gentleman lightly turned and walked away, leaving her, ignoring her, forgetting her.

Who once said that good and evil would be repaid? She finally tasted the bitterness. She was a bad person, a terribly heinous one.

But who has said that a bad person cannot fall in love with someone?

Dongfang Qingqi suffered a severe injury to his right chest and eventually collapsed. The disciples nearby panicked and rushed over to support him. Chu Lei and Pian Pian had chased for a long time, but failed to catch up with Ouyang and that strange demon, finally returning dejectedly. Together with everyone, they carried Dongfang Qingqi back to his room to stop the bleeding and treat his wounds.

However, no one looked at her, and no one came to check on her, as if she were just a puff of air.

She stood in a daze, tears streaming down for a long time before suddenly starting to giggle. Slowly, she turned and walked away.

No one knew where she was going, and no one... cared anymore.

This demon disturbance was ultimately due to a traitor, which allowed them to gain the upper hand. Xuanji and the others had not anticipated such an outcome; under Fuyu Island, there was no Sea-Stabilizing Iron Chain, and Yu Sifeng’s speculation was not confirmed. The creature locked in the dungeon was an old demon with the key to the Sea-Stabilizing Iron Chain sealed within it... The situation had become clear; those demons were trying to rescue the Great Demon from ancient times, at any cost.

As for the situation of the other four sects, it was still not good to speculate. Given the level of ferocity of these demons, it was almost certain that Xuanyuan Sect could not escape this calamity and was likely destroyed. Whether the Sea-Stabilizing Iron Chains were hidden in Dianjing Valley, Lize Palace, and Shaoyang Sect was still a secret. Now that Fuyu Island suffered great losses and the demons had snatched what they wanted, they would presumably not cause more trouble for the time being.

However, the incident with Manager Ouyang was still a substantial shock to the disciples of Fuyu Island. No one knew whether his arrival on the island ten years ago was purely out of gratitude or for today’s actions. Regardless, the fact that he grievously wounded their sect leader could not be denied. The disciples’ affection for Dongfang Qingqi was extremely deep, akin to that of a father and son. Because Ouyang had injured their sect leader and then fled, they were all filled with resentment.

Early the next day, Xuanji and the others followed Pian Pian to Fuyu Town to bring back the disciples previously expelled from the sect by Dongfang Qingqi, and briefly explained the situation. Hearing that the sect leader was seriously injured, all of them wept bitterly. Upon learning that their expulsion from the sect had a justified cause, the grudges in their hearts disappeared, replaced by deep gratitude.

Seeing them crying fiercely, Xuanji quietly tugged at Yu Sifeng’s sleeve and whispered in his ear, "They don’t know it’s because of Lady Dongfang. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen her in the past few days. Have you?"

Yu Sifeng shook his head, "Everyone is avoiding mentioning her now, and you should too. I think if she had any sense, she wouldn’t stay around and must have already left by now."

Xuanji sighed, "Why didn’t Manager Ouyang take her with him? I think she really liked him."

Yu Sifeng smiled slightly and replied in a low voice, "Whether she liked him or not isn’t important anymore. Matters of the heart are always a mix of suspicion and mistrust, especially considering their peculiar identities. To fully trust someone else is impossible, isn’t it?"

After all, no one wants to be hurt by their feelings.

Xuanji scratched the palm of his hand, tickling him softly, and he couldn’t help but be moved as he heard her gentle voice murmur, "If you like someone, you shouldn’t be suspicious and distrusting... It’s very tiring and won’t bring happiness."

He sighed internally; the so-called "liking" was always half pain and half sweetness, because caring too much brings fear of loss. Without knowing the bitterness of love, one cannot taste its beauty, yet knowing the beauty of love makes one all too aware of its lingering bitterness and sorrow, something only the individual can understand.

"You’re still young...you still...don’t understand, do you?" he said with a low chuckle.

Xuanji hurriedly said, "I’m not young anymore! I know! I like Linglong, Sixth Brother, Dad, Mom, all my brothers...I have never been suspicious! Why would anyone be overly suspicious for no reason?"

What a fool. He cursed secretly in his belly.

"However..." Suddenly, she spoke in a tiny, somewhat bashful voice that took Yu Sifeng, who was used to her absentminded style, by surprise. He looked down at her to see her cheeks as red as the dawn, her glossy eyes rolling over his face, her long eyelashes quivering slightly, finally resting her hand on the jade orchid flower behind her ear that had not yet wilted.

"I think I might like you a little more."

With a thud, all the grilled meat and pancakes he had bought fell to the ground. Xuanji let out a mischievous chuckle, suddenly feeling a bit flustered, and turned her face to leave, leaving him standing there, dumbfounded like a wooden chicken, with the poor grilled meat and pancakes lying at his feet. After a long while, he finally came back to his senses, hugged his arms and got a little lost in thought, unable to help alternating between laughter and sighs. He turned to look for her but saw her white figure had already walked far away, and he dared not chase after her. He could only follow her in solitude, his heart filled with both sweetness and sorrow, uncertain of his feelings.

When the group returned to Fuyu Island, Zhong Minyan had wanted to find Brother Ouyang for another chat, but could not find him anywhere and had to grab a passing disciple, asking him, "Brother, do you know where Brother Ouyang is now?"

As soon as the disciple heard the name Brother Ouyang, his face changed dramatically, and he forcefully broke free from his grasp, saying coldly, "I don’t know!"

Zhong Minyan, noticing his poor expression, couldn’t help but wonder, "How can you not know? He’s the one I brought earlier! He even acknowledged kin with Manager Ouyang!"

The disciple sneered, "That Ouyang is a thief who injured the Sect Leader. Everyone on Fuyu Island can hardly wait to tear him to pieces! What manager! Is he worthy?!"

After saying that, he looked Zhong Minyan up and down and added, "That Ouyang is a demon, and his brother is no good either! Likely another spy who infiltrated us. Valley Master Rong has already had him arrested and subjected to severe interrogation. If you’re a decent person, don’t be bewitched by a demon’s words!"

After finishing his words, he left with a flick of his sleeve, leaving Zhong Minyan standing there, shocked and pale.

Arrested?! Severe interrogation?! What has Ouyang done, and what does it have to do with his brother? All along the way, Brother Ouyang was with him, how could he be a demon! He is clearly a man who’s frail and sickly!

The thought of such a feeble person being subjected to torture caused him a sharp pain in his heart. He had already witnessed the extent of Valley Master Rong’s interrogation skills that night; Brother Ouyang wouldn’t have a chance of surviving his attack. No, he had to plead with his master!

With this thought, he immediately turned around and headed back to the guest room to find Chu Lei. (To be continued. If you want to find out what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com. There are more Chapters there. Support the author, support genuine reading!)