Vindicated After a Wrongful Death - Chapter 25

Man Qiuxia, who had just been clamoring for Yun Yanli’s downfall, suddenly went quiet. His eyes remained fixed on the figure of Xiang Zhongjing, who was currently bathed in flames.

For a fleeting moment, it was as if the youth who had split the heavens with a single sword sixty years ago had returned. As Man Qiuxia watched, the fabric of his veil became damp with tears before he even realized it.

Inside the other private box, Qu Weixian watched the scene with an expressionless face for a long while. Suddenly, he leapt out of the pocket dimension and ran toward Xiang Zhongjing with stumbling, unsteady steps.

Down on the platform, Xiang Zhongjing still held his sword, looking down at Yun Yanli from above.

Having been suppressed due to a moment of carelessness, Yun Yanli glared up at him, gritting his teeth in refusal to accept defeat. “What kind of man relies on a sneak attack?! If you don’t kill me now, I swear I will grind your bones to ash!”

Xiang Zhongjing remained unmoved by the cursing. He leaned down, casually reaching out to lift Yun Yanli’s mask, intending to see just who this person really was.

Seeing this, Yun Yanli struggled to form a hand seal with his unpracticed right hand, trying to summon his phoenix. But before the bird could reach them, Xiang Zhongjing sent out a wave of spiritual energy without even looking back. The phoenix let out a “cheep” and tumbled to the ground, where the suddenly appearing Snow Wolf pinned it down with a paw.

Yun Yanli was struck with horror.

He had never known there was such a person in Jiuzhou who could suppress a spirit beast with pure spiritual energy.

While he was still reeling from the shock, Xiang Zhongjing’s slender fingers had already removed the mask from his face.

Yun Yanli glared at him with hatred.

However, the moment Xiang Zhongjing saw the face beneath the mask, he expressionlessly slapped the mask back on.

Yun Yanli: “???”

Xiang Zhongjing said with a straight face, “You’re too ugly.”

Yun Yanli: “…”

Yun Yanli roared, “I am the most beautiful flower in the state capital! You dare call me ugly?! I’m definitely going to kill you!”

Xiang Zhongjing stood up and retracted Qiong Eryi. With a casual flick, he shook the blood from the blade. “You lost,” he said calmly.

Fuming with rage, Yun Yanli clutched his wounded shoulder and stood up. “I only lost because I underestimated you. If we fight again, you will surely die by my sword.”

Xiang Zhongjing’s sudden, unexpected strike had indeed thrown Yun Yanli into a momentary panic. If they had fought a conventional match, he wouldn’t have lost so quickly.

Xiang Zhongjing knew this well, but the spiritual energy in his Nascent Soul was already showing signs of stagnation again; he would likely soon revert to his state of being unable to use it.

Not wanting Yun Yanli to notice, he gave a casual, dismissive nod. “Talk to me again once your injuries are healed.”

Yun Yanli was arrogant, but a loss was a loss, and he didn’t lose his dignity by becoming a nuisance. He let out a cold laugh and issued one last threat: “Just you wait for your death.”

Xiang Zhongjing smiled. “Alright.”

Yun Yanli: “…”

This was the first time Yun Yanli had felt the suffocating frustration of throwing a full-strength punch only for it to land on cotton. He suppressed his temper with great effort to maintain his composure. “Where do you live?”

Xiang Zhongjing: “Why? Looking for revenge?”

Yun Yanli glared at him. “Yes!”

Xiang Zhongjing could tell the killing intent in the man’s eyes had vanished, so he wasn’t afraid of him causing trouble in private.

“I’m at the Wujin Building.”

Yun Yanli repeated the name to himself a few times before saying coldly, “I’ll remember that.”

With that, he turned and left.

The phoenix gave a cry and tried to land on his shoulder with its beautiful feathers flapping, only for Yun Yanli to flick its head aside.

Xiang Zhongjing vaguely heard him cursing, “You useless thing, what good are you?! Now, not only am I not famous, but I’ve also lost all my face!”

The phoenix let out a dejected, “Chirp.”

Once Yun Yanli had left, the spectators in the stands finally snapped out of it. Cheers erupted throughout the entire arena.

Yun Yanli had certainly earned the crowd’s enmity earlier. Xiang Zhongjing’s swift and elegant defeat of the man’s arrogance was a huge relief for everyone. Coupled with the fact that the champion of the Beast Taming Grand Ceremony had been decided, the cheering only grew louder.

One cultivator in the stands finished clapping and suddenly turned to his companion with a confused look. “What are we cheering for? This is the Beast Taming Grand Ceremony, right? Where was the exciting battle between the beasts?”

Companion: “…”

The two looked at each other.

This was the least beast-taming-like ceremony in history.

Xiang Zhongjing slowly retracted his sword. He had struck so quickly that almost no one had recognized his blade or his sword intent.

Just as he was about to go and claim the dragon bone, he saw Qu Weixian, dressed in white, running down the long stairs. He stumbled slightly on the last step, nearly falling.

The previous Xiang Zhongjing had been so traumatized by pain that he refused to trust Qu Weixian. But now that Gu Congxu had helped clear the fog from his heart, he no longer viewed everyone with malice. He realized that the Qu Weixian of the past had never intended to harm him.

His previous indifference toward the man had just been displaced anger.

Xiang Zhongjing looked at Qu Weixian, who had stopped three steps away. He offered a smile as gentle as the one he used sixty years ago. “Weixian.”

Qu Weixian stared at him blankly for a long, long time. He stood dazed for so long that Xiang Zhongjing was about to step forward to find him, but then Qu Weixian suddenly rushed toward him and lunged into his embrace.

Xiang Zhongjing was knocked back half a step, and he raised his right hand with some hesitation.

Qu Weixian was trembling, his arms gripping Xiang Zhongjing with immense force. Hot tears began to flow from his beautiful, vacant eyes, slowly soaking into Xiang Zhongjing’s collar.

“Zhongjing…” Qu Weixian murmured his name.

Xiang Zhongjing’s hand landed gently on Qu Weixian’s back, patting it twice.

“It’s me.”

Qu Weixian continued to cry without any change in his expression. Years of torture from the fire poison had eroded all his perceptions and emotions; he was unable to form any facial expression, regardless of how sad or happy he was.

“Zhongjing,” Qu Weixian said in a small voice. “Zhongjing, I shouldn’t have gone to take the Nether Fire.”

Xiang Zhongjing was taken aback.

Qu Weixian seemed to be talking to himself, his gaze unfocused as he whispered, “I don’t want the Nether Fire anymore. I don’t want anything. It’s so dark there. Let me take you away, alright?”

Xiang Zhongjing felt a pang in his heart, and the sharp defenses he usually kept up softened even more.

When he didn’t get an answer, Qu Weixian tilted his head up slightly and repeated blankly, “Alright?”

Xiang Zhongjing suddenly smiled. “Alright.”

Ever since Xiang Zhongjing left the secret realm, even under the bright sun, he had felt as though he were in a dark, cold swamp. It felt like he couldn’t climb out, and his desperate struggles were only making him sink deeper.

At this moment, he felt like he had finally come back to life.

Seeing him agree, Qu Weixian’s tears finally stopped. He had so much he wanted to say, but when he opened his mouth, he found he didn’t know how to start.

Just then, a peacock flew over from the distance.

Xiang Zhongjing’s gaze followed the bird, and his expression grew solemn.

Qu Weixian suddenly gave Xiang Zhongjing a push. “Zhongjing, go.”

Xiang Zhongjing: “But the pea—”

Qu Weixian suddenly asked him, “Where should I go to find you?”

Xiang Zhongjing vaguely understood Qu Weixian’s intent. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Qu Weixian’s slender fingers press lightly against his own forehead, slowly pulling out a flower-like white light.

Xiang Zhongjing took a look and realized it was the memory of their conversation just now.

After extracting the memory, Qu Weixian instinctively turned the white light into a flower and hid it in his sleeve. Once he finished, he looked at Xiang Zhongjing with a confused expression, appearing as though he no longer recognized him.

Xiang Zhongjing understood his plan and nodded. “At the highest point.”

Qu Weixian didn’t understand those words, but Xiang Zhongjing knew that once he escaped the peacock’s soul-snatching, he would surely understand.

Leaving those words behind, Xiang Zhongjing left quickly before the peacock arrived.

***

By the time he found Man Qiuxia, Xiang Zhongjing’s Nascent Soul had completely lost its spiritual energy. The True Dragon that had disappeared for a moment had recoiled around the Nascent Soul. However, compared to before, the little dragon seemed a bit wilted, its eyes tightly shut, and even the tip of its tightly wound tail was drooping.

Xiang Zhongjing couldn’t be bothered to go to Su Cansheng for the dragon bone. He immediately closed his eyes and entered the sea of consciousness to find Gu Congxu.

But after searching the entire space and even checking the lamps floating in the air, he couldn’t find a trace of him.

Gu Congxu seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no sign behind.

For some reason, Xiang Zhongjing felt as though a piece of his heart had gone missing.

Man Qiuxia woke him up. Xiang Zhongjing opened his eyes, looking a bit dazed. “What is it?”

Man Qiuxia gestured with his chin. Xiang Zhongjing looked over to see Su Cansheng, pale-faced, walking toward them carrying a wooden box.

Recalling Gu Congxu’s words before leaving the Nascent Soul about needing the dragon bone to reconstruct his body, and knowing the dragon never acted without a plan, Xiang Zhongjing pulled himself together.

His injuries still unhealed, Su Cansheng handed the dragon bone to Xiang Zhongjing without a word.

Xiang Zhongjing took it casually, giving the box a shake. “First Sovereign, I still got the dragon bone in the end,” he said plainly.

Su Cansheng remained silent.

“Perhaps there is one more thing you can do to make it up to me,” Xiang Zhongjing said, opening the box to see a piece of bone as translucent and clear as jade resting on red silk. He felt much better and continued, “If you do it, I might consider forgiving you.”

Knowing Xiang Zhongjing’s personality, Su Cansheng knew this promise would likely be something he couldn’t achieve even with his full effort, yet he still raised his eyes to look at him.

“Speak.”

Xiang Zhongjing closed the box and said with a smile, “Since I never formed a contract with the dragon back then, I shouldn’t have been the one who killed those disciples. Why don’t you help clear my name? Make the truth known to everyone?”

Su Cansheng stiffened.

Seeing this reaction, Xiang Zhongjing seemed to have expected it. His eyes deepened, and he let out a long “Oh.”

“I don’t actually need you to clear my name. If I just gave Song Youqiu some jade stones, he could spread the word of my innocence to everyone. But I’ve never done that. Do you know why?”

Su Cansheng knew that asking would only lead to further humiliation, but he couldn’t stop himself. “Why?”

“Because I’m waiting for you,” Xiang Zhongjing said. “Or rather, I’m waiting to see what the person behind you wants to do with this matter.”

Su Cansheng looked up at him in shock, realizing that Xiang Zhongjing’s earlier mention of forgiveness had just been a trap.

” I vaguely remember now. Back then, the three sect leaders seemed majestic, but in reality, every word and action was controlled by the elders behind the Great Gates.” Xiang Zhongjing acted as though he didn’t see the shock, continuing absentmindedly, “Given your character, if you knew I was framed, you would have cleared my name without me even asking. But you didn’t. This indirectly proves that what the elders want is the infamy of me massacring disciples and colluding with the dragon in the Sandu Secret Realm.”

Su Cansheng knew Xiang Zhongjing was clever, but he had never imagined that through such a small detail, the man could guess so much, and be ninety percent correct.

Su Cansheng suddenly felt a chill down his spine as he realized why the highly respected elders of the three Great Gates had gone to such lengths to deal with Xiang Zhongjing.

Su Cansheng couldn’t say much. He could only manage to say, “Watch out for yourself.”

“Stop acting so hypocritical,” Xiang Zhongjing said coldly. “From the moment you followed their orders to deal with me, there was no going back to the way we were.”

Xiang Zhongjing tucked the dragon bone into his sleeve and turned to leave, leaving one final remark.

“Go back and tell those old fogies that I’ll drag them out sooner or later.”

With that, he walked away quickly.

Song Youqiu, watching from a corner, was so excited his legs were shaking. He heard Xiang Zhongjing mention that there were about three elders in the three Great Gates, so he quickly tried to show Su Cansheng his flyer that said “Buy three, get one nanmu coffin free.”

Su Cansheng shot him a cold look, and Song Youqiu immediately scurried away in fear, terrified that Su Cansheng would take out his anger on him.

Xiang Zhongjing had no intention of being stared at like a spectacle, and he was worried someone might try to steal the dragon bone. He and Man Qiuxia hid their presences and returned to the Wujin Building.

Fortunately, Man Qiuxia’s status was still useful. Some people had intended to seize the bone on the way back, but seeing Man Qiuxia protecting him with a murderous aura, they immediately backed off.

The two returned safely to the building. Man Qiuxia had no interest in the bone; the first thing he did upon returning was urge Xiang Zhongjing to bathe and change.

Xiang Zhongjing didn’t need any urging. He stripped and went to bathe. Only as he sat in the bathwater did he suddenly realize something.

Habit is a terrifying thing.

Just as he had become accustomed to Man Qiuxia’s obsession, he had also become accustomed to…

Gu Congxu, who was always by his side.

Xiang Zhongjing turned and leaned against the warm stone by the bath, staring blankly at the dragon bone in the box.

He murmured unconsciously in his mind, “Sange.”

Gu Congxu hadn’t replied the entire way back. Xiang Zhongjing had thought he would be missing for a while longer, but to his surprise, Gu Congxu’s familiar voice suddenly rang out in his mind the moment he called.

“I told you not to call me Sange.”

Xiang Zhongjing was startled. His elbow slipped, and he nearly fell into the water. He quickly steadied himself. “You’re alright?”

Gu Congxu’s voice was a bit weak, but his aura was as strong as ever. “What could happen to me? I’m a True Dragon!”

Xiang Zhongjing couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Gu Congxu looked at him, feeling that his laughter was a bit strange.

The previous Xiang Zhongjing’s laugh was like a mask; no matter how happy he sounded, his eyes remained as cold and emotionless as glass.

But now, from just a casual remark, Xiang Zhongjing’s smile was like a spring breeze blowing through reeds, soft to the very bone.

Not noticing Gu Congxu’s silence, Xiang Zhongjing reached out and pulled the box toward him. “Come and see if this is the dragon bone you wanted.”

Gu Congxu hurried to look, even reaching out with his left hand to sense it. He found that it was indeed his dragon bone.

Gu Congxu said in surprise, “I thought it was a fake, or that Su Cansheng would try to trick you by swapping it out.”

Xiang Zhongjing chuckled. “He wouldn’t do something like that. Never mind him. Aren’t you going to reconstruct your body? Go on.”

Gu Congxu was silent for a long time before looking at him strangely. “You really intend to give the dragon bone to me?”

Given how Xiang Zhongjing hadn’t trusted anyone before, wasn’t he afraid the dragon would just swallow him whole once he got his body back?

Xiang Zhongjing raised an eyebrow. “Do I look like the type of person who goes back on his word?”

Gu Congxu didn’t say anything, but in truth, he was quite happy to have his bone back.

He held the bone in his palm. The joy of regaining his body made him fail to notice Xiang Zhongjing’s situation, and he directly injected his remaining spiritual energy into the bone.

Soon, the jade-like bone turned into a ball of light, slowly elongating until it became a tall, slender figure. Wrapped in black robes, it appeared beside Xiang Zhongjing out of thin air.

Gu Congxu had successfully taken human form. Overjoyed, he stretched out his hands to look them over. He spoke to Xiang Zhongjing as he usually did: “Look, I’ve transformed!”

Because he had just formed his body from the bone, his perception of his surroundings was a bit slow. Only after he finished speaking did he realize he was pressed against a warm body.

Gu Congxu’s entire body stiffened. A bad premonition flooded his mind, and he slowly looked down.

Xiang Zhongjing had been bathing, so he was naturally completely unclothed. He hadn’t expected Gu Congxu to transform so suddenly either. He hadn’t even had time to throw on a robe before meeting Gu Congxu “with total sincerity.”

Xiang Zhongjing looked up at Gu Congxu.

Recalling the times he had been teased by Xiang Zhongjing’s flirtatious remarks just for a slight touch, Gu Congxu suddenly had the terrifying urge to give up his body.

He didn’t dare move at all, staying pressed tightly against the man. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for a barrage of teasing, while he didn’t know if he could survive it, being mentally prepared was better than nothing.

Gu Congxu was ready, waiting for Xiang Zhongjing to speak.

But this time, Xiang Zhongjing acted completely out of character. There was no teasing, no flirtatious talk. Instead, he uncharacteristically lowered his gaze, his long lashes trembling for some reason.

Gu Congxu stared at him blankly. It took a while before he realized that the same Xiang Zhongjing who usually didn’t bat an eye while spouting nonsense now had ears so red they looked ready to bleed.

Gu Congxu: “…”

Gu Congxu: “???”

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