Chapter 427 - 213: Three Women (2)
Today's matter can be considered as a good karma from the past, now coming to fruition.
Back in Ghost Street, Qingqing thought Chu Xuan's help to Gan Yun was useless, citing the example of Yu Zhanfeng, never imagining he would actually return to repay the favor, something she found deeply moving.
Yu Zhanfeng continued, "After breaking into the seventh realm, although I achieved the Ultimate Intent Blade Technique, I no longer had any attachments, only wanting to find a place to end my remaining life, so I sought a secluded spot to build a hut and live in seclusion."
"About sixty years ago, during an outing, I accidentally saved a cultivator from the Hehuan Sect."
"At that time, I acted thinking that the benefactor had some ties with this sect, and the woman didn't have any murderous aura, her actions unlike typical Hehuan Sect disciples, which is why I made the move."
"Unexpectedly, after helping her recover and sending her away, months later, she returned, saying she had been cast out of the Hehuan Sect with no place to go..."
Upon hearing this, Chu Xuan's expression turned odd, as it increasingly sounded like Chen Yunqi's handiwork, the very strategy he had proposed to the Hehuan Sect long ago.
Perhaps initially it was truly a fortuitous rescue, but after the woman reported back to the Sect Leader, Chen Yunqi naturally tasked her with reeling in this big fish, which led to subsequent events.
Indeed, as described later by Yu Zhanfeng, over time, the man and woman developed feelings and ended up together.
However, the woman gently revealed the truth, giving Yu Zhanfeng the freedom to choose.
"So, I took my wife to visit the Hehuan Sect, had a talk with Chen Yunqi. She was very sincere, and the conditions she offered were reasonable, and thinking it was fate, I agreed to become an Honored Guest of the Hehuan Sect."
"I just didn't stay there, usually living in seclusion with my wife at the hut, and came this time after hearing about the Gui Xu Grotto Heaven incident."
"Benefactor, since Chen Yunqi previously helped block enemies for you within the Grotto Heaven, she seems quite sincere. Since you don't plan to return to the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, why not consider going to the Hehuan Sect?"
Before Chu Xuan could lament how his suggestion to Chen Mengdie had come full circle to affect his own family, the voices of three women nearly simultaneously resounded:
"No way!"
Only then did Yu Zhanfeng remember the benefactor had three close female confidants by his side...
He awkwardly lowered his head, "It's entirely up to the benefactor to decide. I won't offer any suggestions."
"As for next, I would like to escort the benefactor for a while. Once you've decided where to settle, just let me know."
Chu Xuan waved his hand, "No need, you can leave now. I'll visit the Hehuan Sect, just not yet."
Yu Zhanfeng hesitated briefly, "It's still not entirely safe; at least wait three to five days."
With that, he took the initiative to walk outside, "I'll find a place to guard outside, and also observe the movements of the Shangguan family. If there's nothing unusual, I'll leave in three days."
Additionally, Yu Zhanfeng secretly communicated his seclusion location to Chu Xuan as a gesture of full trust.
After nodding to send off the swordsman, Chu Xuan turned his gaze to the three women.
Su Mengqing, being the most composed and at ease, immediately stepped forward to hold Chu Xuan's arm, casting a disdainful victor's look across the two women's faces.
Needless to say, both Ji Mingyu and Qingqing wished to give this woman a thrashing.
"Chu Xuan, I..." Although Ji Mingyu had been observing Chu Xuan secretly for years, being quite familiar with him, she found herself too nervous to speak upon meeting him in person.
After all, the last thing Chu Xuan said to her was: Get lost.
"Thank you for saving my life, senior." Chu Xuan, as he did with Yu Zhanfeng, solemnly cupped his hands to Ji Mingyu in gratitude.
However, his use of the term "senior" instantly brought tears to Ji Mingyu's eyes, making her feel as if her heart was being torn apart.
She choked, "You, you still refuse to forgive me?"
Before Chu Xuan could speak, Qing'er interjected, "Don't think I don't know what you're scheming. You think saving Chu Xuan's life will redeem you, right?"
"But that's not how it works. Yes, he owes you a favor for saving his life, but that doesn't cancel the hurt you caused him."
Ji Mingyu glared angrily at Qing'er but ignored her, speaking instead to Chu Xuan:
"I know you still hold grudges against me, and I don't expect you to forgive me right away, but I hope you'll give me a chance."
"A chance to stay by your side, to protect you, to make amends..."
Chu Xuan almost immediately shook his head in refusal, "The bond between us is broken, beyond repair."
"I'm very grateful for you putting past grievances aside to come and save me, even secretly providing me with intelligence. I will remember your kindness today and find a way to repay you in the future, but in this regard, it's impossible."
Ji Mingyu's tears fell like rain as she sobbed her way forward, "Chu Xuan, don't be so cruel to me. You weren't like this before..."
She reached out, trying to grab Chu Xuan's hand.
Qing'er narrowed her eyes but refrained from stopping her, while Qingqing looked on sympathetically.
Chu Xuan clenched his hand to prevent Ming Yu from grasping it, lowering his head with a tone of desolation, "But you weren't like this to me before either..."
Saying this, he walked alone into the depths of the cave, sitting cross-legged and summoning a jade-green Array Plate.
Immediately, an invisible Array enveloped him, isolating him from the outside world.
"I'll leave here in three days; you need not follow me. Whether I live or die will depend on my own fate."
As his words fell, Chu Xuan closed his eyes.
This left Qing'er a little upset; she glared at Ji Mingyu with an expression clearly saying: It's all your fault, now he's saddened and shut me out too.
Qingqing also felt a bit of sorrow, having not yet had the chance to speak properly with Chu Xuan, even if it meant being rejected again...
Thankfully, at that moment, Chu Xuan privately transmitted to her, "Sorry to involve you, but if you don't mind, I'll first take you back to the Li'an Demon Sect in three days."
Qingqing's spirits soared instantaneously from the depths to the heights, eagerly nodding.
Though Chu Xuan hadn't said he'd forgive her, his intention was clear now to drive away Ji Mingyu and that bad woman, taking her alone.
The two women beside her immediately looked skeptically at Qingqing, for despite their realm, unless they purposefully intercepted Divine Sense transmissions or expanded their domains over the area, they couldn't eavesdrop on the communication.
What on earth did Chu Xuan say to this girl? Why is she so elated?
"Qingqing, what did he say to you?" Ji Mingyu asked in a gentle, coaxing tone as if speaking to a child.
Qingqing hesitated for a moment, but shook her head, still holding some respect for her, and having admired and worshiped the former Yuanjun, but since Chu Xuan hadn't said it outright, he didn't want them to know.
This prompted Ji Mingyu to secretly clench her teeth, unable to act out in front of Chu Xuan, she merely sat aside sulking.
Qing'er, on the other hand, shifted her gaze, approaching Qingqing with friendly chatter, calling her "Sister Duanmu" at every turn.
After the earlier incident, Qingqing naturally didn't have a good impression of her.
Yet, one must admit, Su Mengqing had a knack for winning people over. By discussing their shared interests and promising to recount events from Chu Xuan's Celestial Evil Period, she instantly piqued Qingqing's curiosity.
They huddled in a corner of the cave whispering, and in less than half a day, Qingqing divulged everything to Qing'er, prompting Chu Xuan, pretending to meditate but truly restless, to secretly shake his head in disbelief.
Ji Mingyu naturally overheard their conversation too, resolutely vowing to herself: I won't leave Chu Xuan's side ever again! Even if I have to persist shamelessly.