The south wind blew. The night was as still as water.
The sound of debris falling on the ground echoed back and forth in the spacious chamber. It was blocked by a thick wall, so not even a sound passed outside.
Jun Shuying swept everything off the table and gasped over the table. He didn’t give up and lifted his right hand to slam down on the table. A shallow palm print was left on the table.
“Why? Why?” Jun Shuying’s eyes were red. He mumbled as he sat on the ground.
Since he had returned from the cave, his internal force that he thought would recover soon had not improved. Instead it felt that it was lessening. It was like there was a bottomless pit in his stomach that swallowed his internal force. He could feel that his internal force was not lost, but he could not generate any energy. It was like there was something else robbing his power.
“What is it?” Jun Shuying pressed against his abdomen. His joints cracked and his fingertips turned white.
As soon as he had time, he holed up in this secret chamber. He had read many books and tried many ways, but he was unable to recover his internal energy. Jun Shuying was very clear that it must be the gu that Qing Lang gave him. However, he had read almost all the records about Miao gu and could not find anything about his symptoms. When he read about the gu that Gao Fang gave Chu Feiyang, he couldn’t help but finish reading. Smoke emitted from his head in anger afterwards. But he could only bitterly swallow this down and not say anything.
Jun Shuying’s face was calm when he came out of the secret chamber. One could not tell that he was earth-shatteringly furious in the secret chamber a moment ago. Once the door opened, he saw Gao Fang waiting in the room.
“Practicing martial arts?” Gao Fang placed the paperweight that he was playing with in boredom and walked forwards. “Sect Master, you have just recovered. You should take everything slowly. Otherwise, it will backfire.”
Jun Shuying waved his hand. He walked to the table and picked up the tea that was already poured. He faintly asked, “What is it?”
Gao Fang smiled. “If it’s not because of you, there won’t be anything going on.” He paused and said seriously, “We received a secret missive today. Since young master went with Qing Lang, Qing Lang seems to be taking action. We have to be on our guard.” He took a few pieces of paper out.
Jun Shuying took the secret missives and read them. He sneered as he said, “For that monster young master? He’s got a good eye.”
Gao Fang pulled a stool and sat down. He sighed. “Since ancient times, beauty brings disaster. Even if that young master has no ability, with that face and figure, he will absolutely bring disaster. If he has no other skills, it’s not impossible for him to climb onto Qing Lang’s bed to exchange for something with his body.”
Jun Shuying was silent, but his hand tightened around his cup.
Gao Fang played with a cup and continued, “I was originally worried that Qing Lang would do something to you. You’ve been at odds with him, but he never had a problem……”
The cup clattered. It was the sound of it shattering into pieces. Jun Shuying grabbed Gao Fang’s neck hard. The veins on his hands popped. He said viciously, “You’re really getting bolder and bolder. Do you think that I won’t kill you?”
Gao Fang’s eyes widened. His mouth opened wide as his hands clutched the big hand around his beck. Jun Shuying used more strength. Only when Gao Fang’s face turned blue and bloodless did he let go. He looked coldly down at him. Gao Fang clutched his neck and sat on the ground, coughing and gasping for breath. He cut a very sorry figure.
“I…… I know my mistake. Please forgive me, Sect Master.” Gao Fang looked up at Jun Shuying.
Jun Shuying coldly snorted. He ordered, “Strengthen the defense to prevent Qing Lang from coming. Don’t bother me if there’s nothing important.”
Gao Fang lowered his head and assented. Jun Shuying nodded faintly. “Go out.”
“Yes, this subordinate takes his leave.” Gao Fang crawled up from the ground and suppressed his cough. He bowed as he left. Several finger bruises were clearly printed on his thin white neck. Jun Shuying slightly frowned. He walked over to the bookcase when he heard Gao Fang’s ringing bells gradually fade away. He pulled a few books out and continued to immerse himself in his investigation.
Gao Fang was efficient. The defensive deployment was soon arranged. Jun Shuying knew that with his current strength, he could only wait to be captured if he and Qing Lang had a direct confrontation. He could only hope that those subordinates were useful and could block him. But he must find a solution.
Jun Shuying seemed strong, but he was almost always in fear. He could not stabilize his internal force. He lost even his only thing he could rely on. He woke up in the middle of the night sometimes from nightmares.
His suddenly empty dantian [two inches below navel where Qi resides] felt a hundred times worse than a nightmare. He was like a feeble person who couldn’t even kill a chicken living among a group of tigers, leopards, and jackals. He was in danger of being destroyed at any moment.
He thought carefully. It was as if his good luck had disappeared ever since he met that Chu Feiyang. His luck had turned for the worse. If he wasn’t injured by Chu Feiyang, he wouldn’t have lost to Qing Lang; he wouldn’t have been under some strange gu’s effects; he wouldn’t have experienced that shameful night in the cave; and he wouldn’t be losing internal force day after day and could do nothing about it.
He didn’t know when he would recover. He didn’t know when he would be found out and die in tragic circumstances.
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Cookalina Jones Translations 