Chapter 449 - Resurrection and Return

The flames of the candle lamps flickered and wavered gently. But they could hardly sooth or calm Ziyun’er, whose convulsions only grew stronger. Her lithe and slender frame shook as the rest of her pale purplish dress slipped off her, leaving only the soft and tender white skin of her naked body. The folds of her dress fell into a crumble. A heap clinging to her calves.

The girls of the Hidden Fragrance Wafting Under the Moon were sworn to celibacy. Even at the pain of death, they were to guard their chastity without fail. Yet now, with only the filmy sheet of the last remaining bodice on her, the bareness of Ziyun’er’s body was utterly revealed under the swaying effulgence of the lamps. The deadly assassin now a petite and meek little lass, the womanly curves down her waist could easily make any man water.

Not even Liu Liancheng could hold back his placid demeanor. He had never once laid eyes on a little lass of such ravishing beauty and the tears dribbling down her face only made his heartbeat race.

Ziyun’er held back a choke and whimpered, “Please, please tell nothing of this to my lord and sister…”

Liu Liancheng’s lips trembled as if he was trying to speak. But no words came out. He merely smiled, although his stare turned into a hungry look, his usual icy placidness slowly melting. It was the first time he felt such an urge to lunge at a girl. To tear off her final article of clothing and feast with his own eyes the complete allure of the perfect woman’s body.

Ziyun’er gagged, another sob welling up and more tears fell, a deluge that soaked the silky bodice covering her chest as she trembled uncontrollably. Her shaking hands moved slowly, tracing inch by inch to her back and tugged at the straps on her back.

Liu Liancheng felt an electrifying sensation that made his body jerk as soon as Ziyun’er’s fingers clasped at the straps. His eyes burned with passion unblinkingly and his breath began to rise. Her graceful movements were enticingly sensuous to him and her limber and supple frame in the candlelight only made him yearn for her more.

But out of nowhere came a bang that he would have thought it was a bolt of lightning. The doors of his Chamber opened, torn off their hinges in a blast of timber debris and splinters and two silhouetted figures stood in its wake.

Before Liu Liancheng hardly moved an inch, Ziyun’er was already reclothed and it was Qingluan who had helped her. Xiao Chen stormed in, his bloodshot eyes on the brink of popping out as he roared, “BEAST! I’LL SKIN YOU ALIVE!” The Unsullied appeared in his hand and he stabbed furiously at the healer.

The powerful stroke churned up a vacuum in its wake that instantly extinguished all the candles in the hall. A loud clang ensued and the force from the collision shook the whole Chamber and dust began falling from all quarters. Qingluan had, in the nick of time, parried Xiao Chen’s attack with her Royal-blood Blade.

“Please, My Lord! You need to calm down!” She would have wanted to skin Liu Liancheng alive with her own hands. But he was the only one who could help Xiao Chen. The only one they needed alive.

Tears rained down Ziyun’er’s face as she choked with sobs. Qingluan helped her aside, casting a cold glare at Liu Liancheng. “You will heal him this very instant. As of now, I’ll give no d*mn to your rules! And if he dies, rest assured that no one in Jueming Gorge lives! I’ll make sure this place is razed to the ground!”

For once, Qingluan’s eyes blazed with malice and contempt. Unlike the many times she had killed upon command, this time, she was truly angered enough to kill. Truly angered enough that the entire room was tensed with the suffocating pressure from the desire to kill emanating from her.

Liu Liancheng felt his breath coming to a still as the burning passion within him slowly died down. But he was nowhere near panicking. He waved off the acolytes rushing to his defense from outside, motioning for them to leave. He smiled. “So you say. Kill me if you will. Raze this place to the ground if you will. I am the Young Maestro Liu Liancheng. My decision stays. Bow and knock your head on the ground if you please, and still, I’d refuse you.”

“Let’s see how stubborn you’d be…” Qingluan hissed insidiously with a veil of chill shrouding over her. The Royal-blood Blade shook in her grasp, trembling in resonation to her spiking emotions.

Gleefully pleased with himself, Liu Liancheng cried out loud, “NO!” And he yawned while gesturing towards the door. “Kindly see yourselves out. But if you wish to stay here for the night, I can have my people make arrangements.”

“YOU SCUM!” Qingluan spat, her knuckles cracking. But Liu Liancheng was not even the slightest afraid. But how could it be possible? That a man had no weak points?

Xiao Chen reached his hand at the Unsullied which had been struck out of his grasp and driven deep into a pillar. The weapon dislodged itself and flew back into his hand before he tucked it away. “Qingluan,” he muttered coldly, “Let us leave. I’d not have scum like him to cure me. I, Xiao Chen, would rather die than beg him!” He turned, his voluminous sleeves flailing as he spun and began walking out when Liu Liancheng shouted suddenly, “Wait! Just wait!”

Xiao Chen stopped, but he did not turn. “I’m sparing your life because I have no feud with you, you vermin! You should be thanking the stars that I was not too late to save my subordinate!”

“Wait!” Liu Liancheng screamed again. For the first time, he looked anxious and flustered. “What did you say your name was?!”

Xiao Chen looked back. A pair of icy glares shot from him. “I am Xiao Chen. The one and only. What is that to you?”

“The very same Xiao Chen who had wreaked havoc at the residence of Zuoqiu family?”

“Indeed, I am!”

A quick shift occurred to his expression although it quickly recovered. Then he burst into a peal of laughter. “I see! This is Xiao Chen. Brother Xiao! Long I have heard of your name. I’m sorry that we have to meet in such circumstances. My apologies indeed!”

“Begone with you! You worthless rubbish! I am no ‘Brother Xiao’ to you!” Xiao Chen was still seething with resentment, rage, and disgust at the unscrupulous behavior of the healer.

“But why is Liu Liancheng suddenly so amicable,” Qingluan brooded quietly. “What do you want, Master Liu?” she asked coolly.

As if he had turned over a new leaf, Liu Liancheng smiled benignly. “I am so, so sorry, everyone. I have always admired Brother Xiao and his heroics. I’d even hoped to have a drink with him one day. Believe me, I would never have wanted for our first meeting to be like this…” He bowed to Ziyun’er. “I have never been so badly wrong, my lady. Please accept my humblest apologies. I understand full well that perhaps only with my death, you would feel more assuaged. But if you’re really in pursuit of reprisal, I’d gladly allow you to hit me twice on my face.”

Ziyun’er took a deep breath, looking away. “So, you are saying that you would help us, Master Liu?” Qingluan frowned and asked carefully.

“Of course! Please forget about what happened before! Those are all my mistakes!” Liu Liancheng smiled with all the friendliness and warmth of a good friend. Still, the sudden change in his attitude only seemed more confusing and puzzling to everyone.

But Xiao Chen was hardly softened. “Qingluan, Ziyun’er. We’re leaving!” Xiao Chen announced icily. He began walking out and when he came upon one of the broken doors sprawled on the ground, he slammed a foot into it, reducing it to bits.

“Wait, My Lord!” Qingluan cried, raising her arm to stop him.

“I said: We’re LEAVING! Did you not hear me!” Xiao Chen’s forceful growl made even the candles shuddered as if with fear. Knowing better than to contradict her master especially in his fury, Qingluan quickly helped Ziyun’er away. She would have to just speak to him again tomorrow when his temper is no more.

“Wait!” Liu Liancheng stopped him. “Your life is in danger! There is no one else but me who can help you! Are you sure you want to throw your life away?”

With a disgusted “Worthless scum!” Xiao Chen tossed his sleeves and spun on his heels, storming out of the Red Chamber.

Liu Liancheng watched them leave. Once they were out of sight, he rubbed his hands indignantly and vented his anger by kicking at the chair right in front of it, smashing it to pieces. It was the first time that he had asked to help cure someone’s life, rather than the other way around.

“Heh heh heh heh! Xiao Chen… Interesting figure… Small wonder, small wonder indeed…”

The stars and the moon outside were slowly sinking down the sky in the early hours of the morning. They were walking for almost 1,500 to 2,500 meters when finally Xiao Chen looked at Ziyun’er, speaking to her softly, “Don’t ever do that again…”

“I…” Ziyun’er tried to answer, but her voice broke and she succumbed into another fitful of tears. Xiao Chen came closer and took her into his arms like a big brother, soothing her softly, “All right. Everything is fine now.”

He was a master and lord to Ziyun’er and the rest of the girls, but Xiao Chen had always loved her like a sister. He was unhappy, knowing that she had nearly given up her own chastity to Liu Liancheng to save him. He would never forgive himself if he had been just a moment too late. He remembered what happened at Tianyuan City, when Ziyun’er had angered the members of the Fallen Immortals Sect on his behalf and felt only his gut wrenching sourly.

“Silly girl…”

His gentle voice only made Ziyun’er more hysterical and she broke into a sobbing wail. Tears drenched his shoulder as she hugged him tightly for moments until she finally let go when Qingluan cleared her throat suddenly.

A discombobulated Ziyun’er stammered a quick “I’m sorry, My Lord,” and quickly released her hold of Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen shook his head. He wanted to say something but only a series of painful coughs came out of his throat. The use of his inner strength just now had left him depleted. Everything went dark around him and he fainted.

Qingluan quickly caught him. “Like how phoenixes resurrect from death in the legends, I’m sure His Lordship would survive. If there’s anyone who would be able to endure all this, it must be him,” Qingluan sighed and said, “And he’ll return. Greater and more powerful than before. His return would shake the world that the entire status quo of the Violet Manor today would change because of him.”

She exhaled heavily. The sisters brought him back to the cave they rested just hours ago and Qingluan muttered to Ziyun’er, “Come with me.”

“Yes, Sister,” Ziyun’er replied, following behind resignedly.

Qingluan towered before Ziyun’er, the crescent moon in the sky looking oddly like a scythe behind her. The captain of the Levitating Dark Fragrance inhaled gravely. “I have long stressed before how corrosive the perils of love could be to us. Do you not remember my words?”

“I… I do,” Ziyun’er kept her head low. With Qingluan facing her, Ziyun’er felt her stares burrowing deep into her as her captain voiced out the obvious, “You have fallen for him.”

“No!” Ziyun’er shuddered and screamed, her head jerking up, “No! Never! I can’t even comprehend what Love is! Impossible! That’s impossible!”

She shook her head frantically as she denied vehemently, her eyes growing red again. She did not know what Love is and she was not capable of Love, yet. Still, she could not help feeling sad and sour seeing the suffering and agony that her lord was enduring day by day… But she had never felt sad before… Never…

“I see! You have indeed fallen for our lord!” Qingluan hissed, her voice shrill and hard. Her shoulders trembled as her powers churned, a jade-green Qi blade materializing quietly in her grasp…

“No…” Ziyun’er whimpered, still shaking her head ceaselessly, “I have not… But Lord Xiao Chen is kind to us… I… I only…” Tears gushed furiously. “I am not in love with him… No… It’s true… But he is kind to us and I only want to protect him…” Her voice turned raspy in the end and nothing more came from her, save for the litany of choking sobs.

Qingluan took a deep breath and simmered down, the Qi blade in her hand dispersing into nothingness. “So be it then. Remember your mission…”

“What… are you talking about?”

There was Xiao Chen, standing at the mouth of the cave not far from them.