That sound caused Zou Yunting’s expression to change.
Several points of firelight ignited one after another. Four men held fire starters, all guards of the second branch.
Behind them, two more men each supported one of Wen Guoshi’s arms, helping her down the steps in the dark.
Song Pingping did not know whether Wen Guoshi was good or bad, but her presence here was wrong. Moreover, she had seen Wen Kui, who had been abused by the second branch. She immediately looked at Zou Yunting and said urgently, “Senior Brother, did you bring them?”
Zou Yunting did not answer. He stared fixedly at Wen Guoshi and said in a deep voice, “You followed me?”
After the group of uninvited guests stopped, Wen Guoshi stepped forward from the rear. Standing on the steps looking down, she glanced at the sword Zou Yunting held across his hand. “I should thank you. You truly understand your Junior Sister. You found her in one move. If you had not diverted the Qinglian Mountain disciples watching from the pavilion outside, my people really would not have found it easy to follow into Jade Garden.”
After the incident, in order to find Wen Xin, she had immediately arranged for people to monitor Zou Yunting’s movements.
The reason was simple. Zou Yunting liked Wen Xin. It was entirely possible that he would do something to help Wen Xin escape. She had to guard against it, and so the scene before them had unfolded.
Zou Yunting said through gritted teeth, “Why did you run here?”
Wen Guoshi said, “If I do not come, what will you do? Without my assistance, what do you have to take Xin’er far away? Taking a living person and trying to evade Qinglian Mountain’s investigation is not so easy. I came to ask you, which is better, eloping far away, or keeping her in a golden house? You had best consider carefully.”
Song Pingping and Wen Xin were both shocked. Zou Yunting’s cheeks tightened and he said nothing.
Song Pingping said even more urgently, “Senior Brother, what on earth are you two talking about?”
Wen Guoshi completely ignored her. Her gaze fixed upon the nervous and uneasy Wen Xin, upon the ring on the thumb of Wen Xin’s hand that was gripping her clothing corner. She recognised it as the clan leader’s token and immediately sneered coldly. “The clan leader’s ring is actually in your hands. Wen Kui actually said he had hidden it himself. That old fellow went to such lengths to protect you. Xin’er, before the clan leader died, what exactly did you two conspire? You tell Second Mother honestly.”
Wen Xin quickly placed her ring-bearing hand behind her back. She shook her head, not speaking, or indicating she did not know.
Wen Guoshi walked down further, stretching out her hand to demand, “Xin’er, you cannot keep that ring. It is useless for you to keep it. Give the ring to Second Mother, and Second Mother will guarantee your safety!”
Wen Xin shook her head. She was not stupid. She had already sensed that this Second Mother, who normally smiled so warmly at her, was not a good person.
Shua! Song Pingping suddenly drew her sword and stood in front of Wen Xin. With one arm protecting Wen Xin, she retreated down the steps and pointed her sword at Wen Guoshi to warn, “Stop. Do not come any closer, or do not blame me for being impolite to you!”
Wen Guoshi was not afraid of her at all. Not only did she not stop, but she thrust out her chest toward the sword tip. “This is the Wen Clan. As a Qinglian Mountain disciple, you have not forgotten the rules, have you? What do you mean by pointing your sword at me? If you have the guts to stab me, let’s see if Qinglian Mountain will let you off!”
Song Pingping was so angry she bared her teeth. Suddenly, she swept her sword tip across the stone wall.
Hua! The sword tip struck a shower of stone chips from the wall.
“Ahh!” Wen Guoshi screamed, both hands covering her face, stung by the stone chips.
Several guards hurried over to protect her.
Song Pingping sneered coldly. “I do not have the guts to stab you, but it is best not to come near when I am wielding swords and blades.”
Wen Guoshi immediately shouted at her subordinates, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and seize her!”
Song Pingping pointed her sword at the group and shouted fiercely, “I dare you!”
The guards of the second branch looked at each other, very hesitant. They truly did not quite dare. Even dealing with Wen Kui would be one thing, but making a move against a Qinglian Mountain disciple was somewhat unjustifiable. Qinglian Mountain stood above the Wen Residence.
Song Pingping protected Wen Xin down to the bottom of the steps, then turned with her into the tunnel.
“Useless trash.”
Seeing them about to escape, Wen Guoshi cursed in anger and shame.
She had guessed this might happen, which was why she had come personally, in order to control the situation. Otherwise, given her status, she would not have needed to crawl into a tunnel herself.
She turned back to stare at Zou Yunting, who was still wavering. “I truly am blind. How do I keep running into useless men? Surnamed Zou, what are you still standing there for? Your Junior Sister already knows about our collusion. Do you want her to go out and tell your Master? By then, forget about getting Wen Xin, you will lose everything, including your life!”
At these words, Zou Yunting’s entire body trembled. Seeing his Junior Sister’s figure had already disappeared, he immediately flashed down and rapidly gave chase.
The group then also hurriedly chased after, protecting Wen Guoshi.
On the steps, a lone lamp still burned. Also on the steps were placed foods, like offerings to ghosts and spirits.
Chaotic footsteps echoed in the tunnel.
Wen Guoshi, hurrying through the tunnel, looked around. She could tell this tunnel had taken tremendous effort, and could not help but marvel. “I married into the Wen Clan at seventeen. I have lived in the Wen Clan for more than twenty years, yet I never knew there was such an elaborately constructed secret passage beneath the Wen Residence.”
There was another muttered sentence in her heart that she did not speak aloud. Who knew how many secrets the Wen Clan still concealed that outsiders did not know.
Song Pingping could not run fast while carrying a living person. Moreover, her cultivation was not equal to Zou Yunting’s. She was quickly caught up to.
The senior brother and junior sister confronted each other. Song Pingping held her sword horizontally in front of Wen Xin, meeting her Senior Brother’s eyes, and shouted, “Senior Brother, do not force me!”
Zou Yunting intended to approach. “Junior Sister, listen to my arrangements. I will not harm you.”
Song Pingping warned loudly, “Stop!”
Zou Yunting said angrily, “You hid Wen Xin in the tunnel behind Master’s back, and you still have reason?”
Song Pingping bit her lip. “I do not know what exactly happened in the Wen Clan, but I know Xin’er is a good person. Xin’er is even more my good sister. I must protect her safety. Steward Wen said, when the Sect Leader arrives, hand Xin’er to the Sect Leader, hand her to Qinglian Mountain. This arrangement definitely cannot be wrong. Rather, Senior Brother, what exactly is going on between you and Wen Guoshi?”
Zou Yunting took a deep breath. Suddenly he raised his sword, slowly sheathing the sword in his hand. Just like Wen Guoshi before, he sent his chest toward his Junior Sister’s sword tip.
“You, you back away.” Song Pingping was both anxious and annoyed. The sword in her hand was actually forced back by flesh and blood. She was afraid she might accidentally harm her Senior Brother.
Zou Yunting took the opportunity to grab the sword tip before him.
Song Pingping was greatly shocked. Her sword slightly resisted but she did not dare move rashly. She saw her Senior Brother’s hand gripping the sword was instantly flowing with blood, and could not help crying out, “Senior Brother, you, you did not injure the bones, did you?”
Zou Yunting suddenly exerted his internal power. He twisted the sword from her hand, seized the sword from her grasp, and casually flung it away. It clanged against the stone wall, then ricocheted away, clattering down behind Wen Xin, startling her.
The senior brother and junior sister were instantly exchanging blows with bare hands. Facing a sneak attack, the unprepared Song Pingping soon could not move. Her arms crossed, she was held by Zou Yunting gripping both wrists.
The two struggled against each other. Two fire starters that were still burning fell to the ground.
Song Pingping struggled in grief and anger. She did not have her Senior Brother’s deep power, and could not break free. “Let me go!”
Zou Yunting said, “Junior Sister, I said I would not harm you. Why do you not believe me?”
Song Pingping said, “Your actions clearly have nothing to do with Master. If you want me to believe you, then first let me go, let us leave!”
Zou Yunting shook his head. “Junior Sister, matters having reached this point, I will not hide it from you. I was wrong. One wrong step, and every step after was wrong. Senior Brother can hardly turn back now. Junior Sister, I am afraid you will have to suffer grievances for a few days. After I have gone far away, I will release you to return.”
Song Pingping said in shock, “Senior Brother, what exactly have you done?”
The senior brother and junior sister were entangled there chattering, and Wen Guoshi’s group also arrived.
Seeing Song Pingping had already been subdued by Zou Yunting, yet Zou Yunting was still there dawdling, Wen Guoshi could somewhat not endure it. She tilted her head to signal to someone beside her, whispering, “That surnamed Song slut cannot be kept alive.”
The accompanying guards broke into a slight sweat. They felt this joke was a bit too big. That was the direct disciple of Qinglian Mountain Elder Fan Wuchou, who was stationed at the Wen Residence.
Trash! Wen Guoshi cursed inwardly. Her gaze fell upon a dagger tucked at one person’s waist. Her figure blocked the view, and she smoothly reached up to pull out the dagger, holding it reversed and concealed within her wide sleeve, then walked straight toward the senior brother and junior sister.
“How do you plan to deal with this Junior Sister of yours?” Wen Guoshi asked after approaching.
Zou Yunting said, “I will handle it myself. It is not your concern.”
“Is that so?” Wen Guoshi sneered coldly. Without hesitation, she revealed the dagger at Song Pingping’s back. A flash of cold light stabbed in and disappeared, then she rapidly retreated.
Song Pingping’s mouth opened wide, her eyes widened, her face full of disbelief. Soon, blood choked up from her throat.
Her arms were still controlled by her Senior Brother. Her entire body was firmly suppressed by her Senior Brother’s power.
Zou Yunting also widened his eyes. He suddenly released his Junior Sister’s arms, turned her over to look, and saw the dagger plunged into the hollow of his Junior Sister’s back.
Wen Guoshi, who had retreated hastily, was also trembling with both hands. This was also her first time personally taking a knife to kill someone. She was nervous and afraid too.
But she had no choice. How could she let Song Pingping leave the tunnel and return to the Wen Clan? Zou Yunting’s talk of releasing Song Pingping after he had gone far away was simply nonsense. If you go far away, what about me in the Wen Residence? She could not allow that situation to occur, and seized the opportunity to strike decisively with a vicious hand.
The group of guards behind her were also stunned. This woman had actually personally killed the direct disciple of a Qinglian Mountain Elder?
Perhaps because of this shock, the group of people, one by one, occasionally showed trembling reactions, including Wen Guoshi, who from time to time showed slight trembling signs.
One by one, unconsciously, the expressions on their faces all slowly became somewhat strange.
“Senior Brother.” Song Pingping uttered an indistinct sound with blood pouring from her mouth. The look in her eyes toward her Senior Brother was endless sorrow, and also much regret.
And Zou Yunting, who was holding her, first had a face full of shock, then within the shocked expression was mixed some strangeness.
Wen Xin was already streaming with tears. She shook her head, her mouth open wide, weeping silently, unable to utter even a single word of grief.
She could not accept the scene before her eyes. As she retreated, her foot suddenly knocked against a clatter. It was precisely Song Pingping’s sword that had been flung away.
Wen Xin, who would not even dare to step on an insect, suddenly bent down and picked up the sword. Holding the sword with both hands, she charged forward with endless despair and sorrow. The long sword went “pu” and stabbed straight in from beneath Zou Yunting’s ribs, the blade emerging from the other side.
After pulling out the sword, she wanted to stab Zou Yunting again, but was sprayed with blood all over her face and body. Her entire body shuddered from the gore spray. She held the sword with both hands, trembling nonstop.