Chapter 69

Zong Zi Heng woke up from a nightmare.

He dreamed that Yan Shu was holding a dagger, stabbing into his flesh bit by bit, cutting and pulling, digging out the golden core that he had cultivated for his whole life from his dantian*. He was screaming and begging for mercy, filling with grief and wishing he was dead.

The "Yan Shu", however, removed the human skin from his face, revealing a familiar and hideous face, which was his real father---Zong Ming He!

"Big brother, big brother." Zong Zi Xiao held Zong Zi Heng in his arms like a coaxing child, gently stroking his back and wiping the sweat from his forehead, saying with his heart aching, "You had a nightmare? Don't be afraid, I'm here, it's okay."

It took a long time for Zong Zi Heng to pull himself out of the chaos. He looked at Zong Zi Xiao, his deer-like dark and large eyes were full of vulnerability, helplessness and despair at this moment.

Zong Zi Xiao's heart clenched together. The big brother in his mind was always gentle and strong, as if nothing could bring him down, never had he ever shown such a look.

"Big brother, don't be like this." Zong Zi Xiao touched his face and said softly, "Miss Hua's death was not your fault, we will definitely avenge her."

"It's my fault." Zong Zi Heng said remorsefully, "She shouldn't have been involved in this matter. It was me who lied to her."

"The one who tricked her was Consort Shen, not you."

Zong Zi Heng shook his head, "What difference does it make?"

"Big brother ..."

"How did we, how did we get out?" He couldn't remember when he had passed out.

"Xu Zhi Nan and Qi Meng Sheng gathered everyone in the underground palace together, and Father rescued us."

Just the word "Father" made Zong Zi Heng's body tremble.

Every word that Yan Shu, no, Lu Zhao Feng had said in the underground palace was like Suppurative Osteomyelitis gnawing at his flesh and soul. He did not fully believe Lu Zhao Feng. It was likely that those words were half-truths, just to slander his father and drive a wedge between them. He must not be easily fooled, but he would not allow himself to run away out of fear either. He had to find out the truth.

Zong Zi Heng suddenly remembered something. When he was in a daze over Hua Yu Xin's death and Lu Zhao Feng was planning to kill him, he said something. That was ...

"Uncle!"

Zong Zi Xiao said in disbelief, "What? Uncle? What's wrong with Uncle?"

Zong Zi Heng looked ahead in horror, his body aching and cold.

Their Uncle Zong Ming Fu, who was also their master, was the most powerful cultivator of the Daming Zong Sect, and had been in seclusion since he had become an adult, just to break through to the eighth Chongtian of the Zongxuan Sword.

But what Lu Zhao Feng meant was that his uncle was already ... gone?

"Uncle has been in seclusion for five years now."

"Yes, it's been five years." Zong Zi Xiao looked at his big brother worriedly.

It was not uncommon for high-ranking cultivators, especially those who had reached the Patriarch level like his uncle, to be in seclusion for decades, and no one would rashly bother them.

If, if his Uncle was really gone, he’s afraid that the only one who could do this in the Wuji Palace was his father.

"Do you miss uncle?" Zong Zi Xiao said in a soft voice, "Before uncle went into seclusion, he had already approached the Eighth Chongtian. He would definitely be able to break through."

Zong Zi Heng, however, secretly clutched the quilt. He took a deep breath and calmed down his emotions, "What did Father say after we left the underground palace?"

"Yan Shu escaped, and Father listed him as wanted in the entire Jiuzhou Continent."

"What about Wuyun Sect?"

"Any cultivator who died from core theft, the current immortal families will demand an explanation from Wuyun Sect. Having this kind of scum, no one believes that Wuyun Sect has no knowledge of it. Right now, Liu Zheng and his son are at the Wuji Palace begging for mercy."

Liu Zheng was one of the elders of Wuyun Sect and Zong Ruo Ning's future father-in-law. The former head of Wuyun Sect had died, and the current head of the sect was a core thief that everyone wanted to punish, and had taken away the treasure of the sect, the Chasing Mountain Whip.

"With something like this happening, we must not let Ruo Ning marry there."

"Well, how can third sister be married off to such a family?"

Zong Zi Heng pondered for a moment, "What about Hua Jun Cheng?"

Zong Zi Xiao was obviously not too keen to talk, "Hua Jun Cheng has arrested all the disciples of the Wuyun Sect who came to the Jiaolong assembly, and the head of the Huaying Sect has rushed to the Wuji Palace to demand Father to punish them severely, and there is a standoff at the moment."

Zong Zi Heng closed his eyes, his face so pale that it was almost transparent, as if he would disappear in the next instant.

"It's chaotic outside, so for the next few days, don't go out. Recuperate at ease."

"Let me see Hua Jun Cheng." Zong Zi Heng said in a hoarse voice, "I didn't protect his sister, I should repent in front of him."

Zong Zi Xiao was silent.

"Go on."

"Father won't let you leave Qinghui Pavilion, nor will he let anyone in except me."

"... What?"

"Big brother, if Father blames you, just admit your mistake." Zong Zi Xiao pressed Zong Zi Heng's shoulder, "You have been so badly injured, you must not be punished again."

"... Father, did he say why?"

Zong Zi Xiao shook his head.

Zong Zi Heng's heart chilled. Could it be, he’s worried about what “Yan Shu” had said to him in the underground palace?

"Where are Brother Xu and Qi Meng Sheng?"

"For the time being, they are still in the city. Father summoned them yesterday to discuss how to capture Yan Shu."

"Xiao Jiu, find a way to help me hide this from Father. I want to see them."

Zong Zi Xiao looked at Zong Zi Heng suspiciously, "Why?"

"..."

"Big brother, is there something you're hiding from me?" Zong Zi Xiao frowned, "What exactly happened in the underground palace? What did Yan Shu tell you?"

Zong Zi Heng lowered his head. He was not good at lying, not to mention that Zong Zi Xiao was extremely smart. At this time if he said "it’s nothing", it’ll only seem to cover up the truth. He was silent for a while before he said, "It's about Cheng Yan Zhi, and this matter is somewhat confidential, so I can't tell you."

Zong Zi Xiao did not believe him at all, but seeing that Zong Zi Heng was in such a poor state, he could not bear to press him, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask, but now the Wuji Palace is heavily guarded inside and out, and there are boundaries everywhere. After such a big incident in our territory, Father will naturally strengthen the guard and it will be difficult for them to get in."

Zong Zi Heng took a deep breath.

Could it be that he was under house arrest?

"Big brother, just recuperate with peace of mind. I will be with you every day." Zong Zi Xiao held his big brother's hand, "If you don't want to see Consort Shen, I'll help you stop her."

Thinking of Shen Shi Yao, another fire has added to Zong Zi Heng's already tormented heart. She could hardly be blamed for Hua Yu Xin's death, and from now on, how would he face his own mother?

Zong Zi Xiao smoothed Zong Zi Heng's tightly knitted brow with his cool fingers, "Big brother, I don't want to see you like this. I know you don't like staying in the palace. Just wait for me for another year. When I am an adult, we will leave. We’ll take your orchids with us, and go to the south and live the life you like."

Zong Zi Heng gazed at his younger brother, and there was a hidden sadness in his eyes, but he forced a smile, "Are you really willing to give up the glory and wealth here and live a life of casual cultivation with your big brother?"

Zong Zi Xiao said seriously and with certainty, "Yes, I will come back to visit my father and mother every year, and the rest of the time, I will stay with big brother."

Zong Zi Heng stroked his younger brother's hair, his heart turned sour.

The sound of an announcement suddenly came from outside the door; it was Zong Ming He who had arrived.

Zong Zi Heng's body stiffened almost instantly, and Zong Zi Xiao squeezed his hand, "Big brother, don't worry."

Zong Ming He walked in, surrounded by Shen Shi Yao and his entourage, and sat modestly in the chair prepared by the chamberlain.

"Father, Consort Shen." Zong Zi Xiao arched his hand in greeting.

"Father, Mother." Zong Zi Heng forced himself to calm down. Other than a pale and weak face, it has no other flaws.

"Heng Er, your father has come to see you." Shen Shi Yao said softly with tears in her smile, "You must get better quickly."

"Son is unfilial, I have made father and mother worry." Zong Zi Heng said and was about to get out of bed.

Zong Zi Xiao hurriedly helped him up, "Big brother, just stay still."

Zong Ming He waved his hand, his attitude was actually very calm: "You are wounded, there is no need to be formal."

"Thank you, Father."

Zong Ming He looked at him up and down, "How are you recovering from your injuries?"

"Much better, and the wounds have all scabbed over." Zong Zi Heng was an honest and open person, who’s never used to lying and pretending, but at this moment he was giving his full attention to not revealing his true emotions in front of his own father. He looked at Zong Ming He with a look of flattery, just like every time he had received his father's attention and affirmation before, "Thank you so much for your care, Father."

"Well, it is fortunate that you are all alright." Zong Ming He glanced at Zong Zi Xiao, "It is outrageous that two of my imperial sons came close to being killed by thieves in my Zong Sect's territory."

"Yan Shu is malicious, duplicitous and cunning, no one expected this." Zong Zi Heng said, "Thanks to Father for saving us."

Zong Ming He nodded, and said in a usual tone, "You guys go back first, I'll have a few words with Zi Heng alone."

Zong Zi Heng's heart tightened, his pupils contracted violently, and a chill climbed up his spine.

The crowd did not doubt him and all retreated, also gently closing the door.

Zong Ming He gazed at Zong Zi Heng: "This time, the whole immortal cultivation world is in a state of panic. The Huaying Sect is making a fuss and wants me to severely punish the Wuyun Sect, and the Wuyun Sect is eager to break off relations with Yan Shu and wants me to administer justice and not to wrong good people. What do you think should be done?"

"This matter, it is really difficult."

"Difficult?" Zong Ming He sneered, "It's not just difficult, it's a headache! That night when I recruited you and Xu Zhi Nan to the palace, in fact you guys actually had a plan. Why didn't you say anything?" At the end of his sentence, his tone was very stern.

Zong Zi Heng said in fear, "Father, it is not that I am trying to hide something, but there are some things that I do not know. Since I returned to Daming last year, Chen Xing Yong's trial was handed over to the Cangyu Sect. I only knew that Chen Xing Yong was not dead, but I did not expect Qi Meng Sheng to bring him to the Jiaolong assembly to examine everyone one by one."

Zong Ming He narrowed his eyes and looked at Zong Zi Heng. He had the impression that his eldest son was pure and straightforward, even a little too straightforward to know how to turn the tables, and he did not seem like he was lying. He said coldly, "You and Xu Zhi Nan were close personal friends, did he not say anything to you?"

"Before we parted, we were in contact with each other, but then he was badly injured and his two junior brothers died, so he was devastated for a while and we were out of touch for several months. When we met at Daming this time, he didn't say anything, perhaps because he was afraid that there were many people here, or perhaps ... was wary of me as well."

Zong Zi Heng's hands were already clenched with sweat under the quilt, and he was afraid that he would say a flawed word. He kept recalling Lu Zhao Feng's words that it was his own father who wanted his core, and when he faced this man alone, he only felt his blood run cold.

Zong Ming He stared at Zong Zi Heng again in silence for a long time: "In the underground palace, did Yan Shu say anything to you?"

Zong Zi Heng shook his head, "He used the Wusheng Brush to draw the appearance of a stranger, son was unprepared and was attacked by him. After that, Miss Hua ..." He lowered his head as if overwhelmed.

"Are there any clues that can help us catch Yan Shu?"

"Son can't ... think of any for the moment."

Zong Ming He sunk his face, seeing that nothing could be asked and lost his patience: "In these few days, you will obediently recuperate in Qinghui Pavilion. Don't run around, and you don’t need to care about the rest of these matters, understand?"

"Son understands."

Zong Ming He stood up.

"Father." Zong Zi Heng said, "After such an incident, should Ruo Ning's marriage contract be canceled?"

"This matter, again, is not your turn to be in charge."

"..."

Zong Ming He turned his head and left.

Zong Zi Heng became de-energized and laid down on the bed. His eyes wide and vacant, staring into the void as if he survived a disaster.

There was only one thought in his mind today, and that was to see his uncle. He had to verify for himself, what kind of man his father really was.

 

 ----

dantian*[丹田]---acupuncture point three inches below the navel

 

Edited on 31 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

 

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