Chapter 26: Unspoken Feelings

At this moment, Chu Youtai’s eyes and heart held only Yun Cuixian. An overwhelming sense of attachment welled up within him; he felt she was the most precious gift the world had granted him, and he could never let go. He gently embraced Yun Cuixian, feeling the warmth of her delicate form in his arms. He did not know how much time had passed, but suddenly he realized that the woman in his embrace had fallen asleep.

Had she been awake all night?

A wave of pity washed over Chu Youtai. He carried Yun Cuixian into the room and laid her gently on the bed. Watching her weary profile, he felt a surge of emotion; simply gazing at her filled him with warmth.

He waited until Yun Cuixian was completely asleep before stepping out into the courtyard.

His gaze turned to Hongyu.

At this moment, his mind was full of questions about the blood fox pelt. He wanted to ask Hongyu how it was made, what gave it such immense power, and whether it could be crafted again.

These matters were vital to him.

Just as Chu Youtai approached Hongyu to ask his questions, a sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard, and the door swung open on its own.

Chu Youtai, Ju Xue, and Hongyu all started in alarm. They looked up abruptly and saw Shangguan Wanru.

Shangguan Wanru, too, clearly had not slept all night. Weariness clouded her spirit. She still wore her usual red attire, but there was a hint of exhaustion about her.

The moment she saw Chu Youtai, her heart leapt.

—Chu Youtai had returned unharmed!

Previously, her heart was full of doubts about him: Was “The Knight’s Journey” truly his work? Was it Chu Youtai who slew Lei Yinyang? Where had he disappeared to? Were the arrival of those gang members connected to him?

But all her suspicions vanished the instant she saw him.

Now, Chu Youtai carried a sharp aura, a mountain of accumulated bloodlust, and a domineering spirit that eclipsed all. Perhaps the two young girls by his side could not sense it, but she had been raised amid corpses and seas of blood—how could she fail to perceive it?

Not only were all those matters connected to Chu Youtai, it was even possible that he had killed Lei Yinyang!

But how had he managed it?

What astonished her most was that Chu Youtai now possessed a clarity and brilliance like the stars, an allure that captivated the soul. She could not help but feel a growing affection.

She had only felt such a presence once before—in her master, Yuan Zhenren.

For a moment, she doubted herself, disgusted by the emotions stirring within her, and grew embarrassed and angry.

“You…” Shangguan Wanru suppressed her feelings and spoke coldly, “You’re quite the master of concealment—even I was deceived! Who are you really?”

Her tone was sharp as a blade. The wind in the courtyard suddenly rose, then stilled, but her words were dozens of times colder than the wind, her killing intent unleashed.

Ju Xue and Hongyu were frightened; they had seen Shangguan Wanru’s indifference before, but never such murderous intent.

Chu Youtai was unaware of all the turmoil in Shangguan Wanru’s heart, but he understood the tragedy of her past and the slaughter of her family; it was natural that she was wary. He did not take offense. He shook his head and said, “Miss Shangguan, I have never deceived anyone.”

“Yes, yes!” Ju Xue chimed in quickly. After Chu Youtai had gone to the City God’s temple and treated her with medicine, she felt deeply warmed by him. These days, he had not shown any of the previous disdain or harshness towards her as a maid; she felt she was living in the greatest happiness and could not believe Chu Youtai was a bad person.

“In that case—!” Shangguan Wanru’s gaze sharpened, her wrist flicked, and a cold blade appeared in her hand. “Let me test you myself,” she said, icy.

The blade gleamed with a chilling light; though only a foot long, cold air seemed to breathe from its edge, as if sword energy were unleashed, capable of slaying all beneath heaven.

Hongyu cried anxiously, “Don’t, Sister Shangguan!” Seeing Chu Youtai in danger, she threw herself in front of him without hesitation.

But Shangguan Wanru’s blade swept overhead like a rainbow, aiming straight for Chu Youtai.

He sensed the heavy killing intent; with the slightest carelessness, he might die here. He did not hesitate. The fish-scale blade in his arms flashed out, gleaming, intercepting Shangguan Wanru’s attack.

The fish-scale blade was a cursed treasure, now upgraded to bronze—transcending the realm of ordinary swords. Its appearance made the entire courtyard chill, and with Chu Youtai’s deployment of the Dragon Toad technique, one could almost sense a divine dragon soaring from the abyss.

Though he did not expend life force to unleash its shadow killing art, just this single defense entirely blocked Shangguan Wanru’s blade, nearly severing her body.

Shangguan Wanru’s expression shifted; she spun and hurriedly withdrew her blade, narrowly avoiding its being severed by the fish-scale blade.

Chu Youtai struck, repelled Shangguan Wanru, and quickly returned the blade to his arms. The fish-scale blade weakened in sunlight, so he would not let it be exposed.

“The Shadow Blade—Fish-scale Sword! So it was you who killed Lei Yinyang!” Shangguan Wanru said coldly. “Speak honestly, who are you, and which school taught you?”

Her gaze was full of barely contained anger.

Chu Youtai gently shook his head. “I have no master.” He had gained insight into virtue and Dao, practicing Wang Yangming’s “unity of knowledge and action,” though Wang Yangming did not exist in this world.

Shangguan Wanru’s voice was harsh. “You truly refuse to answer?”

Her gaze was as hard as iron. She had resolved that if Chu Youtai would not speak, no matter how powerful he was, she would slay him, just as she had severed all feelings before.

“Sister Shangguan!”

Just then, a figure flashed—it was Yun Cuixian, rushing from the house and standing between them. She had just fallen asleep but was roused by the harsh voices and the trembling sound of blades in the air, and hurried out.

“Please, Sister Shangguan, stop. Let me say a word,” she said anxiously.

“Speak,” Shangguan Wanru replied, her heart cold as jade.

A gust of wind stirred; Yun Cuixian coughed involuntarily. Chu Youtai stepped forward and quickly took off his cloak, draping it over Yun Cuixian. “It’s cold outside—be careful not to catch a chill,” he said.

At that moment, Shangguan Wanru saw Chu Youtai turn his back entirely to her—a deadly error for a swordsman. She hesitated, tightened her grip on the blade, but did not strike.