41: Chapter 41 Mission Completed

A slender silhouette, robes of a Sword Cultivator in cyan, long hair whipping in the night wind.

You arrived fast, so fast that Red Viper's pupils did not even have time to constrict.

Frost Moon Sword Technique, Fifth Form — "Moon Sever".

This strike had no wasted movements; drawing the sword, breaking defense, and piercing through—all done in one fluid motion.

The tip of your sword passed through the center of Red Viper's blood palm, shredding that layer of blood mist, then continued forward to pierce his chest, emerging from his back.

Red Viper lowered his head, looking at the sword in his chest, black blood overflowing from the corners of his mouth, the fierce light in his eyes rapidly dimming.

"Cangyun Sect..." he gurgled in his throat, his body slowly sliding down along the blade.

You withdrew your sword and flicked the blood off the blade.

Red Viper knelt on the ground, pitched forward, and breathed his last.

From the moment you caught up to him until he fell, three moves.

The chaotic battle around you was still ongoing, but with their leader dead, those grey-robed cultists had already begun to scatter.

You turned around and looked behind you.

Chief Constable Liu Jiangyue stood where he was, motionless, his face pale, his blade still held in a blocking stance, but you knew that stance was meaningless. If you hadn't blocked in front of him, he would already be dead.

His gaze landed on you, his lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.

You sheathed your sword.

"Be careful." You looked at him, your tone indifferent, "You shouldn't die here."

After saying that, you walked past him toward the village to help Senior Brother Gu Changfeng and the others clean up the aftermath.

Behind you, Chief Constable Liu Jiangyue finally came back to his senses.

He turned his head to look at your silhouette, the lingering fear in his chest replaced by another, more surging emotion. He opened his mouth, as if wanting to call out something, but in the end, he only let out a heavy breath.

"...Yes." His voice was very soft, spoken to himself.

Senior Brother Gu Changfeng, standing not far away, saw all of this.

His movement to sheath his sword was half a beat slow.

The battle ended quickly.

Once Red Viper was dead, the remaining cultists scattered like birds and beasts, with most of them intercepted by the constables and Privy Councilor Zhao Yuanlang. Of the four Innate Realm cultists, two were killed and two surrendered; only one constable was struck by the aftershock of Red Viper's palm strike during the chaotic battle and died on the spot.

By the time everyone finished clearing the battlefield and escorted the captives back to the county office, the sky was already beginning to brighten.

County Magistrate Liu Pingshan arrived upon hearing the news, his face full of smiles, and made the decision on the spot—to hold a celebration banquet.

—

The celebration banquet was much livelier than the welcome banquet. County Magistrate Liu Pingshan brought out his best vintage, frequently offering toasts during the meal, his eyes squinting into slits as he smiled.

"Everyone from the Sect is heroic! To slay that Blood Lotus Cult monster in three moves, it truly was as easy as reaching out for something! With this achievement reported upwards, this official will also have some glory!"

You sat in your original seat, the wine cup in front of you still full, and you still hadn't touched a drop.

Chief Constable Liu Jiangyue sat at the end of the table, even quieter than last time. From the moment he took his seat, he didn't look at you, keeping his head down and drinking, cup after cup. A fellow constable patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Boss, that situation today, you really were lucky," and he only smiled, then downed another cup.

The banquet dispersed, and everyone returned to their rooms.

Those few people from the East Peak supported the drunken Senior Brother Gu Changfeng as they returned to their room.

Senior Brother Gu Changfeng shook off their hands and, with the intoxication, said, "...I just can't understand." Senior Brother Gu Changfeng's voice was mixed with the smell of alcohol, a few shades deeper than usual, "Tell me, where exactly am I not good enough?"

"Senior Brother, you've had too much to drink." It was Chen Yue's voice.

"I haven't had too much. I just want to ask." Senior Brother Gu Changfeng seemed to have triggered some switch, his voice muffled, "For these three years, I haven't pestered her, haven't overstepped my bounds. Words she didn't want to hear, I didn't say; things she didn't want to do, I didn't force. The distance that should be given, I gave; the respect that should be had, I had. And what was the result?"

"Senior Brother..." Fang Qingyun wanted to say something but stopped.

"You all saw it today, right?" There was a hint of bitterness in Senior Brother Gu Changfeng's voice, "When she saved that Chief Constable Liu Jiangyue, she said, 'You shouldn't die here.' For three years, she has never said such words to me..."

Silence.

After a good while, Fang Qingyun finally spoke: "Senior Brother, forgive my bluntness, but aren't you overthinking it? Senior Sister just said a sentence after killing Red Viper; she has that attitude toward everyone..."

"It's not the same." Senior Brother Gu Changfeng interrupted him, "You didn't see the look in her eyes at the welcome banquet. She stared at that Chief Constable Liu Jiangyue for several breaths, several breaths! When have you ever seen her look at someone like that?"

Silence again.

This time it was Chen Yue who broke it: "Senior Brother, let me say something unpleasant."

"Go ahead."

"Is there a possibility..." Chen Yue weighed his words, "that Senior Sister is just using Chief Constable Liu Jiangyue as a shield?"

Senior Brother Gu Changfeng's voice stopped.

"Based on my understanding of Senior Sister," Chen Yue continued, his speaking speed not fast, "she is not someone who judges by first impressions. A small constable at the Innate Middle Stage—to put it bluntly, what would Senior Sister see in him? His face? Senior Sister herself has the most beautiful face in the world. His cultivation? Innate Middle Stage; she could crush ten of them with one finger."

"Then why did she..."

"Senior Brother, have you considered that perhaps it's precisely because that person is insignificant that looking at him a few extra times won't cause misunderstandings?" Chen Yue's words were straightforward, "But you are different. You are the Sect Head's Personal Disciple; the whole sect watches your every move. The more Senior Sister deliberately treats you with indifference, the more it shows she knows the weight of this situation."

The corridor was silent for a long time.

Then Senior Brother Gu Changfeng let out a self-deprecating laugh, very light and short.

"You mean, even if she marries some random person, she won't marry me?"

Chen Yue didn't speak.

At times like this, silence is the answer.

"...Forget it." Senior Brother Gu Changfeng's voice finally calmed down, as if the intoxication had mostly faded, "Forget it, forget it."

The next morning, you bid farewell to County Magistrate Liu Pingshan and embarked on the journey back.

In front of the county office, County Magistrate Liu Pingshan and his subordinates saw you off respectfully. Chief Constable Liu Jiangyue stood at the very back of the line, his posture very straight.

You swung onto your horse without looking back.

The sound of horse hooves gradually faded. Chief Constable Liu Jiangyue finally walked out from the ranks, watching the direction where you disappeared at the end of the street corner, silent for a long time.

"Father." He suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Let me go to the Cangyun Sect."