Feng Xie pushed out a powerful wave of overwhelming light. Nangong Yue leaped into the air, once again swinging the jade flute in his hand. Countless flute lights, tinged with green, rolled out and struck him.
Just as Feng Xie was about to retaliate fiercely, he saw a slender shadow cast on the bamboo house’s curtains in the afterglow of the sunset. She was watching from there. She had said she didn't care, but she couldn't resist looking, could she?
The corners of Feng Xie's lips suddenly curved into a smile. Liu'er, I believe you have feelings for me. Today, I'm going to take a gamble, to see if your heart still aches for me.
With this thought, Feng Xie slightly shifted his body, enduring a forceful gust from Nangong Yue. His stance wavered, and he stumbled back a few steps, a trickle of blood seeping from his lips.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events. Why hadn't the Emperor retaliated? Nangong Yue was also dumbfounded. He had attacked with all his might because he knew Feng Xie's power was slightly superior to his.
But why did he take a blow head-on?
The others, already frantic, cried out, "Master?"
At that moment, a graceful figure darted from the house and rushed to Feng Xie's side. She reached out to help him up, asking anxiously, "How are you? Are you alright?"
Only then did everyone understand what had happened. It turned out the Emperor had employed a stratagem of self-harm. He was gambling for the Empress's heart, and indeed, the Empress still cared for the Emperor. Everyone chuckled.
Only Nangong Yue's face turned as pale as paper. Struck by the blow, he staggered back two steps. Why was this man so cunning? Seeing Liu'er's concern for him, his heart ached. He felt weak, as if something had drained his blood and stolen his breath. He was in agony.
This was the outcome he should have foreseen, yet his heart still hurt so much. What could he do? Was there anyone who could help him relieve this pain?
At this moment, he wished he were the one who had lost his memory, so he wouldn't remember all this. He shifted his body and swiftly fled.
Liu Liu came back to her senses and looked at the departing figure. She thought of his companionship during these past days, filled with laughter, and how he had always gently stayed by her side.
Had her actions today hurt his heart? Feeling distressed, she stood up and called out, "Nangong?"
Seeing Liu Liu's movement, Feng Xie's heart plummeted. He quickly let out a soft groan, "It hurts."
This soft cry indeed drew Liu Liu's attention. She nervously crouched down to check him for injuries. "Are you alright?"
Feng Xie immediately reached out and clasped her hand, his eyes filled with unfathomable tenderness and warmth, enveloping her. "Liu'er, do you understand now? You pity me. Doesn't this prove everything?"
Upon hearing Feng Xie's words, and recalling his earlier extraordinary martial arts, only to be injured by the final blow, Liu Liu realized he had used a stratagem of self-harm. She became angry and flung his hand away.
"You are too injured. You could have spoken properly. Why use such hurtful methods?"
Liu Liu turned and rushed back to the bamboo house, her heart aching for Nangong, and then for this man outside who had harmed himself. She was filled with despair.
Feng Xie wiped the blood from his lips and smiled, his satisfaction evident. Nangong Yue had finally been driven away. As for Liu'er, he would slowly make her remember everything from before.
Bai Han and Ri Ying, along with two others, gathered around, asking with concern, "Master, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Feng Xie shook his head confidently. The silk threads in his hair fluttered in the wind, making him appear as ethereal as a celestial being in the forest, leaving onlookers momentarily bewildered.
Feng Xie pushed past the three people in front of him and walked towards the silent Yun Gu. Yun Gu's head and feet trembled, as if she were suffering from a convulsion. Several people looked at her in confusion.
Feng Xie gave her a cold glance, too lazy to bother with her strange actions. He spoke in a deep voice, "Nangong Yue is gone. His departure means he forfeited, so I win today."
Yun Gu's mind was blank. She merely looked up at Feng Xie blankly. After a long while, her barely audible voice was heard, "Who taught you your skills?"
Feng Xie raised an eyebrow, his phoenix eyes flashing with displeasure. "My master, Mo Hai."
The thought of his master caused Feng Xie's eyes to deepen. All the internal energy in his body was passed down by his master. Before leaving the palace, his master had transferred sixty years of his cultivation to Feng Xie, which was why his internal energy was so profound.
His master had only one request: to always think of the common people when doing things. He said that having these skills was a minor righteousness in his own hands, but in Feng Xie's, it was a great righteousness, capable of protecting him. Protecting him meant protecting the common people of the world.
Every time he thought of this, it spurred him to write diligently and manage the country with greater effort. So many eyes looked to him with expectation. His master was willing to live alone in Yueyang City, quietly observing everything about him.
"Mo Hai? You said your master is Mo Hai."
Yun Gu leaped up excitedly, her hands trembling as she grabbed Feng Xie's clothes. Tears welled up in her eyes. For so many years, she had been repenting for what happened back then.
But it wasn't her fault. She had never personally killed that woman; that woman had committed suicide. And she, damn her, became the scapegoat.
Thinking of that woman's malice, she became extremely angry. That woman had said that as long as she died, her senior brother would remember her forever and would never marry her, his junior sister.
Because that woman realized at the last moment that her eldest senior brother actually liked her, his junior sister, she was unwilling to accept it.
Because she was unwilling, she hated her. She was willing to die just to make her eldest senior brother remember her, and she became the sinner.
Who in the world didn't know that Yun Gu had killed the eldest senior brother's bride? Yet she had merely gone to see how beautiful that woman was, and damn it, she had carried a lifetime of guilt.
"Yes, my master is called Old Man Mo Hai."
Feng Xie nodded, not quite understanding why this woman was so agitated. However, looking at her beautiful face, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
Could she be his master's junior sister, Yun Qin? It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it? Senior Wu Yazi was his master's junior brother.
Yun Gu was his master's junior sister. He had heard his master mention their past once. It seemed his master had married another woman to fulfill his junior brother's wishes.
But his junior sister had killed that woman, and he felt guilty, so he stayed away from them.
"You are Yun Qin, my master's junior sister?"
Feng Xie called out tentatively. If this woman truly was Yun Qin, then his and Liu'er's matters would be much easier to resolve. Feng Xie's dark eyes were fixed on Yun Gu's face.
Indeed, tears flashed in the woman's eyes. Tears slid down her cheeks, and her hands trembled.
"So he still remembers me. Did he mention me? I've been searching for him to explain the matter from back then. Actually, I didn't kill that woman."
Yun Gu stood up, then crouched down, burying her face in her hands, weeping sadly. Her shoulders shook. Liu Liu, who had been hiding in the house, heard Yun Gu's cries and quickly ran out. She reached out to help Yun Gu up, asking with concern,
"Yun Gu, what's wrong? Why are you so heartbroken?"
When Yun Gu heard Liu Liu's concerned question, she became even more saddened. Crying, she threw herself into Liu Liu's arms, remaining silent for a long time.
Only sobbing could be heard. Everyone was somewhat surprised. Even this old witch could be so heartbroken. For a moment, only her heartbroken sobs could be heard in the forest.
There was no other sound. After crying for a long time, Yun Gu finally stopped sobbing, her eyes red. She looked at the people beside her and said with embarrassment,
"I was too emotional. I searched for him for many years, and only when I despaired did I go to Xue Xiu Peak. I never expected to hear news of him now."