Si Tianjian, Xuanwu Si reception hall.

Xie Hongchen was indeed invited inside, and fragrant tea was quickly served.

He didn’t press, only held his teacup and waited patiently. He always knew propriety. No matter when, he never lost composure.

Footsteps gradually approached from outside. Di Yiqiu stepped inside, bringing with him a sweep of wind and snow.

Xie Hongchen set down his cup and stood up. The two men’s gazes met. The hundred years in the dream, illusory yet real, lost yet present.

“Sect Master Xie, what wind blew you here?” Jianzheng didn’t pause and came to sit in the host’s seat.

Xie Hongchen ignored his sarcasm and said, “Let me see her once.”

“Her?” Di Yiqiu laughed coldly. “Which her?”

Xie Hongchen said in a deep voice, “Di Yiqiu, no matter what the relationship between you and her is, let me see her once!”

“What relationship?” Di Yiqiu withdrew his gaze. His fingertip dipped in tea water, he lightly drew circles on the side table. “Xie Hongchen, in your eyes, what relationship do she and I have?”

“A hundred years of dream realm, known to all. Do I need to say more?” Xie Hongchen turned his face to the side, gloom evident in his words.

“Known to all?” Di Yiqiu laughed lightly, each word dripping with sarcasm. “That’s truly wonderful. Sect Master Xie wants to see her, and this seat can grant it. But also please grant this seat’s wish. Acceptable?”

“Grant you?” Xie Hongchen frowned. “What trick are you trying to play now?”

Di Yiqiu said, “Things have come to this point. Where her heart lies, the Sect Master surely knows in his belly.”

Xie Hongchen naturally knew. He said, “She entered the dream twice, both times with sword pointed at Yuhu Xuanzong. Naturally she was instigated by the court.”

Di Yiqiu gazed outside the hall. Xuanwu Si had several layers of flying snow.

He smiled and said, “Does Sect Master Xie also want to ask whether she was instigated by the court or bewitched by this seat?”

Xie Hongchen snorted coldly and didn’t take up the conversation.

But this was obvious. In two dream realms, those who suffered were all of Yuhu Xuanzong. How could he not be suspicious?

Even the hundred years of husband and wife at Qilu Terrace, her devoted compliance—was it real or false?

Before, Xie Hongchen had at least been certain that Huang Rang liked him. No matter how much of that affection was genuine, at least it existed.

But now he wasn’t certain.

In the previous dream’s hundred years, she clearly had ulterior motives, yet could still enter his tutelage, maintain that ambiguous distance with him, maneuver around him for a hundred years in that obscure way.

What kind of woman was she really?

Xie Hongchen didn’t answer Di Yiqiu’s question, only saying, “Why doesn’t she come forward herself to meet me?”

“Awkward, you see.” Jianzheng said casually. “After all, the relationship is complex and chaotic. If we meet rashly, should it be as equals or as disciple?”

“Well said.” Xie Hongchen stared at the wind and snow outside, asking, “Then what does Jianzheng intend?”

Di Yiqiu said unhurriedly, “I still remember in the first dream, the separation letter Sect Master Xie personally wrote was lost when the dream scattered. Now that we meet again, why don’t you trouble Sect Master Xie to rewrite that separation letter.”

Seeing Xie Hongchen’s expression remain calm, he only thought this person had no real feelings for Huang Rang. Probably just lusting after her beauty.

So Jianzheng spoke lightly as well. “This seat will send this letter inside. Perhaps then she’ll be willing to come out and meet you.”

Just as expected. Xie Hongchen wasn’t surprised by what he proposed—this matter had already shown signs in the first dream realm.

He looked toward the courtyard outside and saw flying snow like flowers, passing through courts and crossing yards.

“This year’s winter is exceptionally cold.” Xie Hongchen gathered his white robes and said softly, “If she’s determined on this, so be it.”

Di Yiqiu gestured with his hand, and someone presented paper and brush.

Paper was spread on the small side table. Xie Hongchen held the brush and dipped it in ink. By his ear, wind and snow didn’t cease. Cold accumulated and condensed in his heart.

He raised the brush and set down characters. Memories froze layer by layer.

—If all past dreams were false, and this moment is when the dagger is revealed, then take whatever you want.

A separation letter. Through the plain silk over his eyes, he wrote the final signature.

Di Yiqiu accepted this contract and rolled it into a scroll. He treasured it greatly and stored it in his storage treasure.

Xie Hongchen said, “With this letter, surely she’s willing to meet?”

“Of course.” Di Yiqiu’s lips curved slightly, his eyes full of mocking laughter. He said, “I’ll go invite her over.”

Xie Hongchen smiled. “It seems at Si Tianjian, she’s truly much more esteemed. Even appearing to meet me once requires Jianzheng to personally invite her.”

Di Yiqiu had been walking out, but hearing this his footsteps paused slightly. He wanted to say something, but in the end only went along with his words and responded, “Sect Master Xie is right. She now… is truly much more delicate.”

Di Yiqiu went out the door. Xie Hongchen followed a few steps and walked out of the reception hall. In the distance, beside the flower-brick path, a plum tree bloomed covered in snow, like fire, like荼.

He stood under the eaves. Snow in the courtyard had already accumulated to knee-height.

Xie Hongchen extended his hand. The snowflakes, carried by wind, drifted and swayed as they fell into his palm.

By his ear, someone said, “Hongchen, this journey—I don’t know if there will be another chance to meet. This flower blooms upon seeing snow. I name it ‘Thinking of Your Peace.’ Hereafter, no matter the ends of the earth, evening and morning, when flowers bloom I’ll think of your peace.”

But from that dream’s hundred years on, he had never again received this flower branch.

Huang Rang, this morning’s cold snow has come again, and you’ve finally chosen to bloom at this Si Tianjian.

Through wind and snow, someone came toward this place.

Xie Hongchen withdrew his gaze, so that tree of fiery red also dissipated and withered in his pupils. He watched in the snow and saw Di Yiqiu pushing someone, coming toward this place.

Pushing?

Yes. He pushed a wheelchair, and on the wheelchair sat a person quietly.

A woman.

Wind blew, snow swayed, the umbrella didn’t shield from cold.

So Di Yiqiu walked very quickly.

A moment later, he pushed the woman in the wheelchair into the reception hall. Xie Hongchen hurried over—that was naturally Huang Rang.

Today she wore a black gauze dress, the skirt hem fluffy, elaborate and magnificent. The gauze was inlaid with broken pearls forming flowers, the flowers hexagonal, just like flying snow. Very suited to today’s weather.

Her hair bun was also neatly combed, with a fan-shaped hair comb set diagonally on her head, the comb also fully inlaid with pearls.

As if afraid of cold, she wore a black cloak outside, the cloak’s tie a tail of white jade tassels. Now her slender and graceful hand rested lightly on this tassel tie, even her nails adorned with pearls forming paintings.

From head to toe, exquisitely magnificent to the point of falseness.

But Xie Hongchen had never imagined he would see her like this.

She sat upright in the wheelchair. Scattered snowflakes melted in her hair at her temples. Her features remained exquisite, her beauty almost demonic. But her eyes were spiritless, as if she’d lost her soul.

Xie Hongchen walked before her. Even though in the first dream, Huang Rang had said those strange things to him, even though in the mountain belly’s secret room, he’d discovered suspicious traces.

Even though he was already half-believing all this, he still hadn’t imagined that the current Huang Rang would be like this.

He’d thought this might be a scheme by Huang Rang to hurt him.

He’d also considered the court using Huang Rang to strike at Yuhu Xuanzong.

Or that Huang Rang had long loved another and turned to Di Yiqiu.

Or that she was originally a chess piece of Shi Wenyu’s, and from the moment she appeared before him, it had already been a deception.

But he had never thought their meeting would be like this.

He crouched down. When he raised his hand to touch Huang Rang’s hair, his fingertips transmitted a sharp sensation. In that moment, this number one sword immortal’s hand finally trembled.

—He knew what that was. As Sect Master of Yuhu Xuanzong, he knew better than anyone.

“Ah Rang?” These two words emerged as if also frozen by harsh winter, his breath trembling.

Di Yiqiu moved the warming brazier over and placed it by Huang Rang’s feet, saying, “Whatever Sect Master Xie wants to ask, ask quickly.” He lightly brushed away the melted water droplets from Huang Rang’s hair and said with a smile, “After all, she now… is quite delicate. In weather like this, she originally wasn’t willing to come out and see guests.”

But what else could Xie Hongchen ask?

The hundred years of love were real, suffering cruel torture was real, ten years of imprisonment was also real.

Only times had changed, and they looked at each other speechless.

Xie Hongchen wanted to hold Huang Rang’s hand, but Di Yiqiu quickly blocked it. He moved Huang Rang’s wheelchair back slightly and said, “Sect Master Xie may not know, but in the mortal world, the defenses between men and women are quite strict. Such behavior is very improper.”

Xie Hongchen drew a deep breath, settling all the surging and churning emotions. He worked hard to make his voice calm. “I’m taking her back.”

“Taking her back?” Di Yiqiu seemed to have heard something amusing and asked, “And then? Hand her over to Xie Lingbi?”

Xie Hongchen froze. Jianzheng finally laughed aloud, then continued asking, “Or have her proclaim to the immortal sects, restoring Xie Lingbi’s innocence?”

The two words “innocence,” he said with particular weight, already in a state of scornful mockery.

Xie Hongchen said angrily, “Di Yiqiu, she is my wife!”

But immediately, Di Yiqiu said, “She hasn’t been for a long time.” After speaking, he gently smoothed Huang Rang’s long hair. “Xie Hongchen, even if back in Xiancha Town she made one mistake, there’s no reason she should be yours for a lifetime.”

“Made one mistake?” Xie Hongchen laughed coldly. Tolerant as he was, his words also became sharp. “By what right do you speak for her? By what right do you make choices for her? By what right do you judge right and wrong for her?”

Di Yiqiu gently pressed his hand on Huang Rang’s shoulder. He met Xie Hongchen’s gaze, yielding not an inch. “By the hundred years in the dream when she answered my request and agreed to marry me as my wife.”

Xie Hongchen’s blood stilled. His footsteps shifted slightly, stepping back one pace.

“A pipe dream—can it be taken as real?” Xie Hongchen laughed coldly, then suddenly said, “Di Yiqiu, today I must take her away no matter what.” Xie Hongchen was always mild-mannered. People rarely saw him in a forceful stance. Now with his heart sword in hand, he said softly, “No one can stop me.”

“Then let’s decide this with battle.” Jianzheng was equally unyielding, even mocking with a phrase: “Number one sword immortal.”

If they were to fight, it definitely couldn’t be in the reception hall.

Xie Hongchen and Di Yiqiu had tacit understanding and both retreated to the courtyard.

Wind and snow howled. One white, one purple, facing each other in the long wind. In an instant, falling snow became sharp as knives.

Xie Hongchen’s heart sword in hand shone with light illuminating heaven and earth, while Di Yiqiu’s hands once again showed green-blue serpent scales. A mass of poisonous fog surrounded him. Snow falling on it hissed with sound. With this momentum, everyone around knew this was bad.

Sure enough, Xie Hongchen’s sword struck down, clear light like lightning, splitting heaven and cracking earth.

Di Yiqiu, having madly swept through a hundred years in the dream, knew Yuhu Xuanzong’s techniques inside and out. He used poisonous fog to resist this sword’s momentum, then his finger-claws like hooks counter-attacked the enemy. In everyone’s ears they only heard sword and finger-claws colliding. Before their eyes were all afterimages.

Huang Rang faced the central courtyard, truly anxious and helpless.

She didn’t want the people in the courtyard to determine victory or defeat, mainly worried Di Yiqiu couldn’t win.

Though Xie Hongchen was detestable, his reputation was definitely not unearned.

Compared to him, Di Yiqiu was truly a junior of a later generation, moreover a craftsman. In cultivation, he would probably suffer unusual disadvantage.

In the courtyard, Jianzheng naturally wouldn’t fight head-on.

Since he’d accepted the battle, naturally he must strive with full effort. He wasn’t unaware of Xie Hongchen’s formidability.

These miscellaneous fish at Si Tianjian could be ignored—their mouths couldn’t spit out any ivory anyway. But Ah Rang was right in the hall. If he got pinned to the ground and beaten until searching everywhere for his teeth…

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

So Jianzheng also used every trick in his arsenal.

In his storage treasure, those mechanisms, traps, hidden weapons, even firearms—things the number one sword immortal had probably never seen before.

Indeed, Xie Hongchen hadn’t seen them.

What was that huge iron implement that could shoot fire and thunder from a long tube, blasting the ground full of shattered stones and ice?

And what was that round sphere buried in the snow, covered in spikes, that when stepped on would explode countless poison needles?

In any case, this day at Xuanwu Si, Si Tianjian’s Jianzheng battled the number one sword immortal.

Xie Hongchen in his fury also realized this person was truly difficult to handle.

As for Jianzheng… he had no time to think about anything.

Huang Rang sat in the reception hall, feet warmed by the brazier, cozy and warm, anxious as a fire.

Li Lu, Bao Wu, and others rushed over one after another, but clearly, it was useless.

—In this battle, no one at Si Tianjian could intervene.

Everyone was running around in anxious circles. Fortunately, there was still one wise person!

Miao Yunzhi strode over. Without even looking at the two fighting to the death, he went straight to the reception hall.

Seeing him, Huang Rang finally felt a thread of hope rise again.

Miao Yunzhi hurried behind Huang Rang and raised his hand to grip the tail of the Soul-Binding Bone-Setting Needle in Huang Rang’s hair.

“If you don’t stop immediately, this old man will pull out this needle for you!” he said in a deep voice.

Huang Rang: “…”

—Thank you, this is truly a heaven-struck, lightning-blasted brilliant idea!

But the two fighting in the courtyard actually did stop.

Xuanwu Si was already a complete mess. Students had all hidden to one side. Di Yiqiu quickly entered the reception hall. Xie Hongchen naturally followed closely behind.

Miao Yunzhi’s hand still gripped the needle tail, but the Soul-Binding Bone-Setting Needle absolutely couldn’t be touched. Otherwise, the skull would experience severe pain.

Huang Rang’s gaze even trembled somewhat. Miao Yunzhi finally said, “Xie Hongchen, let her stay at Si Tianjian. With this old man looking after her here, you can rest completely assured.”

With Miao Yunzhi’s status, if he was willing to say this, he would naturally keep his word.

Xie Hongchen frowned and said, “But how can Xie’s wife remain at Si Tianjian?”

Miao Yunzhi said, “If you take her back to Yuhu Xuanzong, how will you explain to Xie Lingbi?”

With these words, Xie Hongchen was indeed stopped. After a long while, he answered, “I… will protect her with full effort.”

“Xie Hongchen,” Di Yiqiu gently pushed Huang Rang’s wheelchair so she directly faced Xie Hongchen and said, “You tell her to her face that you’ll protect her with full effort! You tell her that she was struck with the Soul-Binding Bone-Setting Needle because you protected her with full effort! That she was imprisoned in the depths of Luofu Hall also because you protected her with full effort!”

Xie Hongchen’s gaze fell on Huang Rang. Huang Rang’s expression was wooden, her eyes hollow. She didn’t speak or move, like a lifeless fake thing.

How could he possibly say it?

So many years of coldness, wariness, deliberately maintaining distance. That year’s words—he’d only heard the beginning before ending with a reprimand.

Ten years as a prisoner, and though he was full of doubts, he never sought verification. So she didn’t see daylight for ten years. Who knew the suffering within?

Now meeting again, he spoke of protecting with full effort, but the old friend was already riddled with wounds.

“I…” Meeting Huang Rang’s scattered, powerless gaze, he couldn’t say the remaining words.

Miao Yunzhi said, “This old man doesn’t care about your grievances. But right now, suddenly encountering this chaos, Si Tianjian and Yuhu Xuanzong must cooperate fully to investigate the truth. Not kill each other here. After today, if you two dare fight again, this old man will pull out this girl’s Soul-Binding Bone-Setting Needle to prevent further争!”

“…” Jianzheng suddenly felt this scene familiar. Thinking carefully, it was exactly what Qiu Shengbai had said to him at the bottom of Yuanrong Tower in the dream.

—If you don’t drink the medicine, I’ll stomp Yanglaozi to death.

Xie Hongchen put away his heart sword. He turned to look at Di Yiqiu and said, “She’s only recuperating here, but after investigating this dream’s origin, I will naturally take her back.”

Di Yiqiu laughed coldly. “Sect Master Xie wronged his old friend by his own ability. To take her back, naturally you’ll also need ability. Relying on words alone probably won’t work.”

Li Lu and the others were all speechless—comparing these two in strength, perhaps Xie Hongchen was superior. But in verbal skills, their own Jianzheng was unmatched under heaven.

Sure enough, Xie Hongchen couldn’t even be bothered to respond. He came before Huang Rang and raised his hand wanting to touch her face, but ultimately didn’t.

The old friend was like ice, like jade, seemingly without knowledge or feeling.

But she was originally an extremely active person. Even staying at Qilu Terrace for a hundred years, she’d done many things.

Xie Hongchen didn’t dare imagine her state of mind.

So even the three words “I’m sorry” were so superfluous.

He said, “I… will search for all records about the Soul-Binding Bone-Setting Needle and give them to Senior.”

Miao Yunzhi made a sound of acknowledgment and said, “Go back. Remember what’s urgent. If we really speak of it, Huang Rang is also a renowned expert of her generation. Don’t learn from chickens and dogs, pecking and biting at each other, letting her see the joke.”

Xie Hongchen looked at Huang Rang again. After a long while, he bowed to Miao Yunzhi and turned to leave Si Tianjian.

The snow still hadn’t stopped. In the capital’s winter, dripping water became ice.

Di Yiqiu gently stroked the top of Huang Rang’s head and said, “Actually, entering dreams isn’t bad at all. At least you can break free from restraints and regain freedom, right?”

“What fart are you spouting?!” Miao Yunzhi’s brows shot up and he immediately started scolding. “Heaven’s Way moves without stopping, independent and unchanging! Now that such things have happened, I’m afraid before long, great calamity will descend! You short-sighted thing, no wonder you’re Shi Wenyu’s seed! Rotten wood! Mud!”

He thoroughly scolded them like scolding great-grandchildren. The people of Si Tianjian all listened silent as winter cicadas.

Only Huang Rang enjoyed Di Yiqiu’s gentle stroking, agreeing with that statement.

What was bad about entering dreams? Those dead people were able to return to life—wasn’t this what so many people thought about day and night, sought and hoped for?

What was bad about it?

At this time, Yuhu Xuanzong.

Xie Shaochong’s head was as big as a bushel. The Ancestor’s injuries were severe, his howling unceasing.

He Xijin, Zhang Shujiu, and Wu Zichou had personally verified and knew they couldn’t get anything out, and were also anxious.

Fortunately, at this time, Xie Hongchen returned to the sect.

He Xijin and the others immediately surrounded him. He Xijin spoke first, saying, “Ex-ex-ex…”

Zhang Shujiu supplemented, “Sect Master Xie, regarding Ah Rang’s matter, Yuhu Xuanzong must give an explanation!”

—In his urgency, He Xijin had directly omitted the preceding words.

Xie Hongchen swept his gaze over the three. At this time, the worries and vexations in his heart were no less than anyone’s.

He suppressed his temper and said, “To be frank, Ah Rang disappeared eleven years ago.”

Since he was willing to speak, He Xijin and the others also breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Shujiu quickly asked, “Why did she disappear? Yuhu Xuanzong’s Sect Master’s wife disappeared, yet Sect Master Xie claimed to the outside world she was in seclusion recuperating. All these years, did you search for her?”

His string of questions came because there were truly too many inexplicable points about this matter.

Xie Hongchen drew a deep breath—if he admitted that Huang Rang had mentioned matters about Xie Lingbi, then the immortal sects would definitely put Xie Lingbi on public trial.

Setting aside the trial’s results, just the common people’s speculation and wild histories would be enough to destroy this thousand-year-old sect.

“After my wife disappeared, I sent people to search privately. Only…” His voice paused slightly.

Wu Zichou then said, “Only you claimed it was your wife’s younger sister who disappeared and the search was fruitless after a long time.”

Xie Hongchen tacitly agreed. Wu Zichou said, “Back then when disciples sent back news, I even praised the Sect Master’s righteousness. But caring so much even about a wife’s younger sister, searching for ten years.”

He Xijin said, “Xie-Xie-Xie…”

He truly had difficulty speaking. Zhang Shujiu could only say, “What about Xie Lingbi? These two strange dreams, the spearhead clearly points directly at him! Does Sect Master Xie truly have not a single clue?”

Wu Zichou could only patiently persuade, “Sect Master Xie, things have come to this. Are you still going to cover for him?”

However, Xie Hongchen said, “I originally thought Ah Rang was bewitched by someone. But today I went to Si Tianjian and saw her.”

“Uh…” When he mentioned Si Tianjian and Huang Rang, the three of He Xijin suddenly felt somewhat guilty.

Xie Hongchen continued, “Last time someone broke into Yuhu Xuanzong. I carefully investigated the traces left behind and already know it was Senior He and the others’ doing. I want to know from where the three seniors learned of Ah Rang’s whereabouts.”

This was somewhat awkward. The three looked at each other. Finally, Zhang Shujiu said, “This matter was indeed presumptuous, but we also heard it from Si Tianjian’s Jianzheng.”

He Xijin didn’t rush to speak now. Wu Zichou picked up, “Di Yiqiu summoned the three of us, saying that Madam Xie knew some unspeakable secret about Ancestor Xie Lingbi. Who knew she was harmed by Xie Lingbi and imprisoned in the secret chamber of Luofu Hall!”

“We discussed and felt we couldn’t let her be harmed innocently. That’s why we joined Di Yiqiu in sneaking into Yuhu Xuanzong.” Zhang Shujiu pondered for a while and said, “Speaking of which, how did Di Yiqiu know about this? Does Si Tianjian have spies at Yuhu Xuanzong?”

Wu Zichou said, “I’m afraid it’s not spies. That Young Master Xie Yuanshu of your family’s estate—which of those ingenious objects doesn’t come from Si Tianjian? By this sect master’s view, you have a traitor among yourselves.”

“Makes-makes-makes sense!” He Xijin agreed.

Xie Hongchen nodded and said, “The three speak truly. In this matter, I must thank the three of you. After all, if not for this, she would still be in Luofu Hall’s secret chamber, for who knows how long.” His gaze lowered. After a long while he said, “On my return from the capital, I contemplated repeatedly along the way. All this is this one person’s fault.”

When he said this, He, Zhang, and Wu fell silent instead.

Speaking of blame, these years Xie Hongchen truly hadn’t been idle running around for immortal sect matters. Yuhu Xuanzong had also truly contributed considerably to the mortal world’s common people.

Zhang Shujiu said, “Sect Master Xie needn’t think this way. Right now, the task is to root out the chief culprit. No matter what, Miss Ah Rang cannot suffer in vain.” Speaking to this point, he became suddenly serious. “So Sect Master Xie must publicly try Xie Lingbi!”

The two words “public trial” showed their heavy威.

Among the immortal sects, only those with grave crimes were publicly tried.

Every criminal subjected to the Soul-Binding Bone-Setting Needle had undergone public trial, judged collectively by the immortal sects.

—It should have been this way originally.

Xie Hongchen considered再三and said, “I will thoroughly investigate this matter. Only right now, relying solely on dream realms, and Ah Rang unable to come forward to testify, without evidence to publicly try his venerable person… the grounds aren’t sufficient.”

He bowed to the three and said, “Xie requests the three seniors allow me to determine the truth before deciding how to proceed.”

With his dignified status as Sect Master, he actually spoke these words of request.

He, Zhang, and Wu were naturally moved.

In terms of battle prowess, none of He, Zhang, or Wu was Xie Hongchen’s match.

In terms of status, he was the immortal sects’ number one sword immortal.

In terms of these years’ labors, he was no less than the three.

Such a person, speaking with such earnest words—Zhang Shujiu quickly said, “Sect Master Xie speaks too seriously. We don’t deserve this.”

Xie Hongchen still bowed deeply to the three before heading toward Anlei Peak.

His usually upright bearing now slightly showed意signs of weariness.

At Anlei Peak, Luofu Hall.

Xie Lingbi, having experienced two dream entries, had his power diminished by as much as sixty percent. Besides the waist numbness from the first dream, now he had additional head ailments.

The disciples of Baicao Peak couldn’t cure him. He had no obvious wound on his head, but once the head ailment flared up, the pain was unbearable.

For a time, this former immortal sect’s venerable senior of great virtue had fallen to such a state. Even his reputation was already tottering.