SC Chapter63

When Jiang Lingxin woke up, his Shadow Guard Mao Si was beside him.

“Master.” Mao Si knelt before Jiang Lingxin’s bed and called softly.

Jiang Lingxin looked at the canopy above his head silently, all that remained in his mind was Zhou Yan’s resolute departure on horseback that day. He knew he shouldn’t be thinking about these things anymore.

“Master,” Mao Si called again and said, “Your injuries require a period of rest and recuperation, Master.”

Jiang Lingxin propped himself up to sit. His vision was dim. It took him a long while to catch his breath, and he said, “Return to Jinling City before my Senior Brothers do.”

The current Division Master of the Tianyi Division had a total of three disciples. Jiang Lingxin had two Senior Brothers above him. Now that the Division Master had thoughts of abdicating, he personally wrote down three tasks on jade slips. The three senior and junior brothers each drew one, with a deadline of six months. The one who could accomplish the task would be the next Division Master of the Tianyi Division.

Jiang Lingxin had been planning for half a year, and now that the task was complete, he naturally could not delay on the road.

Mao Si’s brow was tightly furrowed, and he lowered his head further, saying, “Master, the fetal breath in your abdomen is unstable. It is truly inappropriate to rush on the road anymore.”

Jiang Lingxin turned to stare blankly at his most loyal Shadow Guard. In an instant, the shock in his heart aggravated his injuries. The dull pain in his lower abdomen worsened, causing him to let out a low groan and clutch his cold lower abdomen.

“Master!” Mao Si reached out to help but was glared intro retreat by Jiang Lingxin.

There was killing intent in Jiang Lingxin’s eyes.

Mao Si withdrew his hands and waited quietly for instructions.

Jiang Lingxin was silent for a long time before saying with difficulty, “Abortion medicine.”

“Yes.” Mao Si answered without hesitation.

Jiang Lingxin closed his eyes as he laid on the bed, his fingertips loosely resting on his abdomen. In the chaotic light and shadows in his mind, Zhou Yan’s face occasionally flashed. “Zhou Yan…” Jiang Lingxin’s five fingers tightened slightly, pressing against his abdomen, seemingly wanting to dig out the mass of flesh and blood within. After a long while, he loosened his grip as if drained of strength.

Mao Si quickly brought a bowl of medicine in and placed it by Jiang Lingxin’s bed, within easy reach.

Jiang Lingxin sat up and picked up the medicine bowl, then vaguely recalled that when he was poisoned by the Seven Star Lotus, Zhou Yan always coaxed him to drink his medicine, being cloyingly bothersome.

Mao Si noticed that Jiang Lingxin’s expression was off and had to speak up: “Master, the medicine will get cold.”

Jiang Lingxin came back to his senses and asked him, “What is the situation at Medicine King Valley?”

Mao Si knew who his master was asking about and truthfully reported, “Master sent Si Liu to inquire. Si Liu just sent word that Zhou Yan has been expelled from the sect. He was covered in injuries when he left the Medicine King Valley, presumably having suffered punishment.”

Jiang Lingxin was silent for a moment, then raised his hand and flipped the medicine bowl, saying coldly, “He is obtuse.”

If Zhou Yan had been willing to go with him, why would he have suffered this ordeal? Would he have mistreated Zhou Yan?

Mao Si looked at the shattered medicine bowl by his knees and thought to himself, Master is angry, but why spill the medicine?

Jiang Lingxin waved his hand, signaling Mao Si to leave, and no longer mentioned the matter of the abortion.

If he flipped it, then so be it. He was willing, he was happy, and he had no regrets.

When he returned to Jinling City, the weather had turned cool. Jiang Lingxin changed into a long robe to cover his slightly bulging lower abdomen. In the Tianyi Division, his two Senior Brothers had not yet returned to the division. He was the first to report his mission to his master.

The Division Master looked at his youngest disciple, his expression calm: “Your Eldest Senior Brother is brave and resolute but too soft-hearted and lacks a touch of ruthlessness. Your Second Senior Brother is courageous and decisive but rash and lacks a bit of caution. Only you… I had already guessed it would be you.”

Jiang Lingxin bowed and kowtowed.

The Division Master said, “Wait for your two Senior Brothers to return, and for some matters, you will make your own decision.”

Jiang Lingxin understood what his master meant and agreed. He had not returned to the division for more than half a year. His courtyard was still the same as before, it was swept and cleaned every day. He also waited patiently for his Senior Brothers to return. However, even though he was home, he couldn’t idle. His master intended to hand the Tianyi Division over to him, and he gradually began to take over the influence of the Tianyi Division.

This made Jiang Lingxin feel exhausted. The little thing in his abdomen that was already moving was a burden. It often made him feel powerless, fatigued, and sleepy, and he gradually became haggard.

On the morning his Second Senior Brother returned, Jiang Lingxin was deep asleep in his room. This was the third time this month he had overslept and missed the time.

When Jiang Lingxin opened his eyes, he saw his Second Senior Brother sitting by his bed.

“When did Second Senior Brother return?” Jiang Lingxin’s hand under the quilt subconsciously covered his abdomen. He calmly sat up, his eyes clear, without any trace of the haze of just waking up at all.

His Second Senior Brother smiled with a look of mockery on his face: “Couldn’t return earlier than Junior Brother.”

Jiang Lingxin pursed his lips coldly.

His Second Senior Brother said, seemingly in a casual chat, “After all these years, this is the first time I’ve seen Junior Brother be lazy and sleep in so late.”

“I apologize for making Second Senior Brother laugh.”

His Second Senior Brother quickly waved his hand, his eyes full of sarcasm: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. With Junior Brother’s future status, I’ll have to rely on Junior Brother’s care in the future.”

Jiang Lingxin knew that his Second Senior Brother was annoyed that he had returned first and taken the lead.

His Second Senior Brother stood up, looked down at Jiang Lingxin as he said, “Before I came in, I kept thinking about how the one who was expelled from the Medicine King Valley was so blind and fooled. But seeing Junior Brother in his sleep, I can somewhat understand him.”

Jiang Lingxin looked up, staring deeply at him.

The killing intent then revealed itself.

His Second Senior Brother tossed an object over from beside him. Jiang Lingxin reached out and caught it. It was a small jar of wine.

“Senior Brother didn’t come across anything good on this journey, so I brought a jar of ‘Beauty’s Drunkenness’ for Junior Brother,” his Second Senior Brother sneered, pushed the door open, and left. Before leaving, he did not forget to mock: “Wine is a gut-piercing poison, lust is a bone-scraping steel knife…”

After the person walked far away, Jiang Lingxin slowly got up and put on his clothes. Mao Si then entered stealthily and closed the door.

“Master.” Mao Si knelt on one knee before Jiang Lingxin, took a piece of white silk from his hand, and skillfully wrapped it around Jiang Lingxin’s waist.

Jiang Lingxin’s face turned another shade paler. He put on his outer garment, pressed his sore lower back, and glanced coldly at the wine jar on the table, saying, “Put it away. After all, it is… the last gift from Second Senior Brother.”

After the Division Master left Jinling City, Jiang Lingxin temporarily took charge of the Tianyi Division’s authority.

When his Eldest Senior Brother returned, Jiang Lingxin hosted a banquet at the division to welcome both Senior Brothers and to wash away the dust of their journeys. Wind lanterns hung high in the garden, their candlelight flickering, while the robes of passing maids fluttered, bringing with them a fresh, fragrant breeze. Jiang Lingxin sat in the main seat, his back straight and posture bamboo-like beneath the layers of heavy clothing, his expression calm as he personally poured wine for his Senior Brothers.

“It has been a long time since we senior and junior brothers gathered like this. Today, I will first toast two cups of humble wine to my two Senior Brothers.” Jiang Lingxin said, and was the first to empty his cup.

His Eldest Senior Brother’s demeanor was calm and gentle. He smiled as he took the wine cup and said, “Senior Brother congratulates Junior Brother here for being the first to return to Jinling City, and wishes Junior Brother smooth sailing in all future endeavors and the realization of his wishes.” This was a declaration of support for Jiang Lingxin as the next Division Master.

But his Second Senior Brother did not think this way. He splashed the wine in his cup all over the table, threw the cup with a sneer, and turned to leave in front of Jiang Lingxin. Jiang Lingxin watched his Second Senior Brother’s back without speaking. He was not surprised by this scene at all. His Second Senior Brother had been at odds with him since childhood. If it hadn’t been for their master keeping the peace over the years, the two would have killed each other countless times by now.

His Eldest Senior Brother seemed a little awkward as he comforted him: “Ah Ling, your Second Senior Brother has always had this temper. Don’t take it to heart. Just let him sulk for a few days.”

“Since we are senior and junior brothers, how could I hold a grudge over this?” Jiang Lingxin smiled, his tone gentle, but his expression lacked any warmth.

His Eldest Senior Brother was long accustomed to his appearance and only said, “Ah Ling, you look unwell. Are you too tired lately? Taking over the Tianyi Division can be done slowly. You must take good care of your health.”

“Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother.” As Jiang Lingxin stood up, he subtly supported his lower back. “I will see Eldest Senior Brother back.” The two senior and junior brothers talked along the way after leaving the banquet. The Division Master was always busy with affairs. When Jiang Lingxin was young, he mostly followed his Eldest Senior Brother, who was somewhat like an elder brother and father to him.

When they reached the courtyard gate and said goodbye, Jiang Lingxin suddenly called out to the Eldest Senior Brother, “Senior Brother, sleep early tonight.” His Eldest Senior Brother’s eyes darkened slightly, he wanted to say something, but Jiang Lingxin did not linger and already turned to leave.

On Luoxian Lake, pleasure boats and painted vessels drifted endlessly, accompanied by soft music and the gentle strum of strings.

Only one painted boat was exceptionally quiet. A beautiful and stunning musician was tuning his zither, while the brocade-clad young master sitting opposite him was pouring and drinking by himself. The musician lifted his eyebrows and cast a cold, detached glance upward, yet it strangely ignited a spark.

The wine jar shattered, soaking their clothes. The young master pressed the musician against the screen, gripping his jaw firmly and lifting his face.

“Second Young Master.” The musician remained calm, only curling the corner of his lips.

“Shut up, don’t talk, just look at me.” The brocade-clad young master tore open the musician’s lapel, leaned down, and kissed him fiercely on the eyelids, saying, “I like your eyes the most, they are like his. But if only he could be as obedient as you.”

The musician smiled bitterly with tears in his eyes.

The brocade-clad young master frowned: “Don’t cry, he never sheds tears.”

“Yes, Second Young Master.” The musician’s long legs were forced apart and pressed against the young master’s waist. The zither strings on his fingertips gleamed coldly. In an instant, he hooked a finger, wrapping the strings around the neck of the person in front of him, while killing intent suddenly flared. Blood splattered along the zither string, but it did not sever the brocade-clad young master’s head.

A disciple trained by the Division Master was naturally not so easy to deal with. The Second Senior Brother’s eyes flashed with both shock and anger, but it was only for an instant. He clenched the zither string with his five fingers as blood wound down his wrist.

The Second Senior Brother suddenly laughed out loud while mocking himself: “Even you betray me.”

The musician’s clothes were loosened. The zither strings under his fingers, taut like living ropes, struck once more. He only said, “I was merely acting on my master’s orders.”

The Second Senior Brother dodged the fierce, murderous strings and re-examined the cold, clear eyes of the musician, saying, “You are… Jiang Lingxin’s man.”

Dozens of people instantly appeared on the painted boat. There were waiters in rough cloth, flower girls in the boat, and a blind old man playing the erhu… at this moment, they all cast aside their disguises, carrying a murderous aura of readiness to die.

“Heh… Third Brother really went all out.” The Second Senior Brother licked the bead of blood from his fingertips and said, “If you want to take my life, you’ll have to see if you have the ability!”

The lake surface glowed with a dark red blood color. On two boats facing each other, Jiang Lingxin looked at the shadowy figures on the opposite side while setting a black chess piece. Mao Si poured hot tea before handing it over. Jiang Lingxin took it, glanced at the chessboard with satisfaction, then swept all the pieces off.

“Let’s go.” Jiang Lingxin stood up. After removing the waist wrap, his abdomen protruded with a noticeable curve. He reached out and placed his hand on his lower abdomen, lowering his eyes slightly, feeling the subtle movement under his palm, and sighed, “Go and see off your Second Martial Uncle.”

The boat deck was a blood-red mess, staining the hem of Jiang Lingxin’s snow-white robe.

“Master.” The musician’s five fingers were stained with blood, as he knelt before Jiang Lingxin, saying, “Wu Qi has successfully carried out the mission.”

Jiang Lingxin looked at his second senior brother, who was already dead behind him, and nodded: “Disable your own martial arts and leave.”

Wu Qi was stunned.

Jiang Lingxin lowered his head and looked at him, “You developed feelings for my Second Senior Brother, and yet you killed him with your own hands for me. Do you really intend to stay by my side?”

Wu Qi smiled bitterly, kowtowed, and voluntarily destroyed his core, reversed his Zhenqi[mfn]Once again, it’s internal energy[/mfn], and spat out a mouthful of blood. Jiang Lingxin was unmoved, only watching Wu Qi pick up the stringless zither and stagger away. That zither was the only thing that man had ever given him.

Jiang Lingxin untied his cloak, squatted down, and covered his Second Senior Brother’s corpse with the cloak. Before he could stand up, he heard footsteps behind him along with a soft exclamation.

“Junior Brother!”

Jiang Lingxin did not raise his head and only calmly said, “Senior Brother, didn’t I tell you to go to bed early?”