110. Cannot Be Forced

Even from a great distance, Zhao Yixiao seemed to still sense that heavy aura of bloodlust. The street was empty and deserted, with only him walking slowly alone. He had been hiding in the shadows, observing everything that had transpired tonight. He knew the men he sent were utterly incapable of harming them; his actions were merely to confirm one thing.

The howling wind grew fiercer, tossing Zhao Yixiao’s hair wildly. His steps remained slow, his face expressionless. “So you truly like him, Beigong Qiyi...”

A low chuckle echoed through the empty street. Zhao Yixiao quickened his pace. Even knowing this, what use was it? Bowing his head, he smiled softly. This matter posed no threat to him at all. In fact, he might even wish for everyone to know...

“Your Highness, how did it go?” From afar, Zhuang Ming hurried to meet Zhao Yixiao as he emerged. Zhao Yixiao concealed his expression and said slowly, “Beigong Qiyi was injured.” Zhuang Ming was taken aback and quickly asked, “Ah, then Your Highness...”

Zhao Yixiao turned to look at him, smiling slightly. “Beigong Qiyi was hurt protecting Beigong Juechen. None of the men I sent managed to injure them in the slightest, yet all of them fell beneath Beigong Qiyi’s sword. And the one who injured Beigong Qiyi—who knows who sent him—escaped. Don’t you think something is amiss here?”

Zhuang Ming frowned thoughtfully before suddenly realizing, “Could it be someone from the ‘Shadow Pavilion’?”

Zhao Yixiao sighed in disbelief. “What difference is there between the ‘Shadow Pavilion’s men and those I arranged? With Beigong Qiyi’s skill, there’s no way anyone would escape unless...”

“Unless that person was arranged by him himself!” Zhuang Ming cut in. “But why would he have someone injure himself?”

He scratched his head in puzzlement. Zhao Yixiao cast him a sideways glance, half exasperated. “Do you remember what I said to you this morning?”

Zhuang Ming thought for a moment, then suddenly widened his eyes. “Could it be that Beigong Qiyi deliberately allowed himself to be injured as a ‘stratagem of self-inflicted wounds’?”

Seeing his shocked expression, Zhao Yixiao sighed. “Exactly. Moreover, Beigong Qiyi was injured protecting Beigong Juechen...”

“But Beigong Juechen’s martial arts are formidable. How did he let Beigong Qiyi get hurt?” Zhuang Ming couldn’t help but interject.

Zhao Yixiao suddenly stopped. Indeed, Beigong Juechen had not intervened even once tonight. At first, he thought Juechen merely looked down on getting involved. But he had seen clearly the moment Qiyi was struck; Juechen could have ended it immediately, yet he did not.

Zhao Yixiao glanced at Zhuang Ming and smiled. “I once sent people to assassinate them. At that time, Juechen appeared to have no internal energy at all, so I sent men to probe. When I next met him, his internal energy had recovered, but it seemed he had forgotten some things. It appears the relationship between Beigong Qiyi and Beigong Juechen is even more complicated.”

Zhuang Ming didn’t understand the feelings between men and could only nod, pretending to understand. It seemed he had pieced together something. Zhao Yixiao’s steps grew brisk. If they truly liked each other, Qiyi wouldn’t have needed to resort to such tactics—unless... it was all one-sided.

He must have used some special means to keep Beigong Juechen by his side. Zhao Yixiao narrowed his eyes. If that were true, things would be easier... He sneered coldly.

Zhu Sha lounged idly on the table, watching the candle burn down from full to half, yet he was still alone in the room. Just as he was about to pick up his sword and go look for someone, Su Yueling pushed the door open and entered.

“Senior Brother, where have you been?” Zhu Sha hurried over to ask. Su Yueling smiled, “It’s so late, where would you go?” Zhu Sha was puzzled by his brother’s question but quickly dismissed it, “I saw you hadn’t returned yet, so I came looking for you.”

Patting his head, Su Yueling put down his sword and chuckled softly. “Alright, I’m back now. It’s late—wash up and get some rest.” Zhu Sha’s gaze remained fixed on him and, hearing this, he nodded dazedly. “Senior Brother, come with me.”

Su Yueling shook his head. “You go ahead. I’ll stay here.” Slightly displeased, Zhu Sha lowered his head and murmured “Oh.” He placed his sword alongside Su Yueling’s and headed toward the inner chamber.

Only Su Yueling remained in the room. He looked at the two swords on the table, furrowing his brows slightly. His handsome face flickered with hesitation. He sighed heavily, as if making a decision.

He extinguished all the candles in the room except for two by the bed. Fu Zhi took off his coat and hung it on a nearby rack. “So late, why have you come?” Suddenly, he spoke. The room remained as quiet as ever, seemingly empty, but after a moment, a woman in a deep crimson gown slowly emerged from the darkness.

“Brother.” Ran Luo smiled lightly. “I wanted to come see you.” Fu Zhi glanced at her strangely. “Why come see me?” Ran Luo pouted and sat beside him. “I’m your sister. Can’t I come visit you?”

“You suddenly showing up like this means something is wrong.” Fu Zhi ignored her coaxing and said coldly, “Speak. What is it?”

Ran Luo pouted and plopped down on the bed. “Brother, I really don’t need you to help me with anything tonight. I just saw something interesting on the road and wanted to tell you.”

Fu Zhi sat beside her, expression indifferent. “What is it?”

Ran Luo winked at him. “I saw Beigong Juechen and Beigong Qiyi tonight.” Fu Zhi looked silently at her; seeing his unchanging face, Ran Luo clasped her hands and smiled. “If you’re not interested, I won’t say more.”

Fu Zhi’s barely perceptible frown deepened. “Speak.”

As expected, Ran Luo smiled slyly. “It’s strange. You said Beigong Juechen has regained all his memories, yet his relationship with Beigong Qiyi seems to be improving. Tonight, Beigong Qiyi even staged a hero’s rescue, getting injured in the process. Brother, it looks like you’ve lost your chance for good!”

“I never thought I could have him,” Fu Zhi said quietly, eyes lowered. “I’m cursed with the fate of a lonely star, destined to be estranged from kin. To be considered a confidant in his heart is enough.”

“Lies!” Ran Luo snorted coldly. “If that’s true, why didn’t you stop me when I made the deal with Beigong Qiyi? You even helped me. You clearly longed for him, so why do you always let him slip away at critical moments?”

Fu Zhi’s lowered lashes hid his expression. “You’re right. I once yearned, but some things, some people, are never meant to be yours. Why force what can’t be forced?”

Ran Luo sprang up. “What do you mean ‘can’t be forced’? Then how come Beigong Qiyi forced himself on Beigong Juechen?”

Fu Zhi shook his head indifferently. “Before Juechen came to me, he had already started recalling fragments. By his nature, he would have torn Beigong Qiyi apart, but he didn’t. When I was curing him of the curse, I felt that Beigong Qiyi was different in Juechen’s heart.”

“Juechen is cold-hearted, ruthless, loveless—how could he be different?” Ran Luo sneered.

Fu Zhi was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. “Even the coldest heart can feel. Otherwise, how would I have fallen for him?”

Ran Luo was momentarily speechless. She bit her lip and lowered her gaze, showing a trace of guilt. “Brother, I’m not blaming you. You’re not like Beigong Juechen.”

Fu Zhi looked up; half his face was lit by candlelight, the other half shrouded in darkness. “How am I different? You say Juechen is cold, unfeeling, loveless. Am I not the same?”

“But you like Beigong Juechen!” Ran Luo blurted out.

Fu Zhi smiled faintly, took her hand, and invited her to sit beside him. “Now Juechen also likes Beigong Qiyi. Luo, I know you worry about me, but Juechen doesn’t like me. I can’t force him to.”

Ran Luo shook his arm in strong disagreement. “But Beigong Qiyi forced Beigong Juechen to like him!”

Fu Zhi held her hand and met her gaze calmly. “You still don’t understand. I’m nothing like Beigong Qiyi. I’m far more cowardly.”

“That’s not true!” Ran Luo immediately retorted. “You’re not weak, Brother. It’s Beigong Qiyi who’s cunning and cruel to the one he loves.”

Fu Zhi gently patted her head. “It’s late. Go back now.”

“Brother, why do you live here alone? Why not come back with me?” Ran Luo widened her tearful eyes and looked at him pitifully.

Fu Zhi shook his head. “I like quiet. You shouldn’t stay in Zhongyuan too long. Since you’ve found Qiang Yanxi, you should return to the frontier. After all, the ‘Gensha Sect’ can’t be without its leader.”

Ran Luo snorted heavily in displeasure. “The sect leader should be you, but you ran off with that old man to ‘Frost Mountain,’ leaving this mess to me!”

“Even if I didn’t leave, I wouldn’t be the sect leader.” Fu Zhi showed rare helplessness. “The Gensha Sect has always had female leaders. How could they make me the leader?”

“Hmph.” Ran Luo turned her head and snorted again. “Don’t think you can shirk your responsibilities like that! I’m your sister, but you’ve never fulfilled your duty as a brother!”

Fu Zhi shook his head and whispered, “Luo, I just want to be alone and peaceful.”

Ran Luo’s carefully crafted expression melted away as she looked at Fu Zhi with concern. After a long while, she reluctantly nodded. “Alright, it’s late. Brother, go to sleep. I’ll watch you fall asleep before I leave.”

Fu Zhi nodded helplessly, took off his shoes, and lay down quietly, closing his eyes.

Ran Luo sat quietly by his side. One by one, those around them had died, leaving them to rely on each other. One day, someone claimed Fu Zhi was a cursed star reborn—unfeeling, loveless, destined to bring death to those close to him. Then Fu Zhi left for Frost Mountain, and the siblings had not seen each other for over ten years.

“Brother, I said, if you and Beigong Juechen can’t be together, I will make you forget him completely. I don’t want you to suffer.”

The scent of incense gently spread through the room as the girl in rose-colored robes gradually faded beyond the door.

Author’s note: I’m so foolish. t t 166 Reading Network