Chapter 118: Expelled from the Sect

“Perhaps once the Celestial Lord’s grand wedding is over and all goes smoothly, things will improve,” Tian Sheng said to me.

“I worry that before the wedding, Prince Tian De might hastily summon and deal with you. We must find a way to warn Master in advance about Tian De’s plot against him and you. Lately, apart from Lu Xue, he hasn’t given anyone the chance to be alone with him,” I replied.

“The Celestial Lord’s grand wedding shakes the heavens, and with the great victory and the acquisition of the Netherworld, the Celestial Palace must show face. They won’t do anything to spoil the celebration. But I fear this matter cannot be concealed from the family’s wives,” Tian Sheng said.

“If Zi Zhen comes, I will look after her. Don’t worry,” I assured him, thinking that since he already despised and loathed Yu Fei to the utmost, the trouble Yu Fei left for him back then would be even more detestable.

Back at the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion, “Mother, look at this. I found it in the pile of miscellaneous items,” Little Bai said, holding out a cultivation record written by Yu Fei on his desk for me to see.

It turned out that this silk-bound record had been discarded by him in the clutter of the pavilion. I took the silk book, “Good boy, go read the books on the shelf.”

I sat on a stone by the Silent Reflection Lake and opened the silk book, reading every word carefully. When I reached the end, I gently closed it and held it tightly to my chest. “The beloved returns.” She has indeed returned; Yu Fei must leave now. A passerby, a substitute... Let her dust return to dust and earth to earth. I flicked my hand, throwing the silk book into the lake. Flames erupted around it as it slowly descended, eventually burning out completely and turning into sparks that flew upward into the sky.

“What are you doing?” He looked fondly at Little Bai inside the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion.

“Reading,” Little Bai said, not looking at him.

“Where is your mother?” he asked Little Bai.

“My mother doesn’t want to see you. You don’t need to look for her,” Little Bai replied.

“What about the silk book here?” he asked.

“It’s burned,” Little Bai answered.

“Burned?” he asked again.

“Shouldn’t trash be burned?” Little Bai said disdainfully.

When I returned to the pavilion and saw him, I stepped back two paces and remained silent. He stepped forward two steps.

“Han Qing! What are you doing here?” Lu Xue suddenly appeared at the doorway.

“Xue’er has been busy with wedding preparations lately. If you have nothing to do, go help in the kitchen,” he said coldly, then left with Lu Xue.

Little Bai glanced at his retreating figure and snorted, “This Second Uncle is terrible,” he said.

In the kitchen, Chun Feng, Chang Yang, and the senior brothers gathered. Fourteenth Senior Brother complained, “Senior Uncle, if this continues, I will exile myself from the sect. Master always complains my cooking tastes awful. I really don’t know how to cook anymore. Lu Xue came to teach me with such gravitas, but the dishes made according to her instructions don’t taste as good as mine!”

“You’ve never been good at it, and after five hundred years, you still haven’t improved,” Chun Feng said.

“Master said the wedding preparations I bought weren’t luxurious enough,” Thirteenth Senior Brother complained.

“Why don’t we just rescue Tian Sheng directly and stop trying to please them? Master used to be very tolerant and didn’t fuss over anything,” Twelfth Senior Brother said.

“No, that would confirm the charges and add the crime of fleeing. Master has just been resurrected and hasn’t fully recovered. For now, we must follow Master’s lead and wait for a good moment to persuade him,” Fifteenth Senior Brother said.

“Oh, what about the meal? Senior Uncle, maybe Senior Aunt can help...” Fourteenth Senior Brother tentatively suggested.

“No way! She’s so angry she could die, no way she’s cooking. Not risking choking them!” Chun Feng said.

“I’ll do it,” I said at the door, unable to watch the Fourteenth Senior Brother suffer so.

“Little Bai’s mother, he’s lost all sense because of lust. Don’t cook for him,” Chun Feng warned.

“For Tian Sheng’s sake, as Fifteenth Senior Brother said, Master might not be fully recovered yet. We’ll just follow his mood. Chu Fang, just say you cooked it. Don’t say it was me,” I said gravely.

When the meal was served, Lu Xue sat down and tasted it, clearly satisfied. Then she served some to Master. “Han Qing, I taught Chu Fang some recipes. Try it and see if it tastes like I made it.”

“It does,” he replied.

Chun Feng rolled his eyes at Master. Lu Xue smiled at Chun Feng, “Big brother, why does Fei’er never eat with us? She hit me over Tian Sheng’s matter and threatened Han Qing. I don’t blame her, nor does Han Qing. She and Tian Sheng were both military men; their bond is special. I understand. I never thought Fei’er’s name and style were so similar to Fei’er.”

“What? Is that true?” Chun Feng was surprised. He didn’t know I had threatened Master; Lu Xue thought her scheming had succeeded. Seeing Chun Feng’s shock, she smiled triumphantly, “Such a beauty risking everything to protect me; if I were a man, I’d marry her! She treated big brother the same way back then, right?”

“Of course! Must marry!” Chun Feng thought of how I risked everything in the Netherworld to save him and rip out his heart.

“Come, darling, eat your vegetables!” Lu Xue smiled, offering food to Little Bai.

Little Bai pushed the bowl aside coldly, “No thanks.”

I had little appetite and left for the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion after finishing. I pondered the matters; today was the tenth day, and his wedding was on the sixteenth. On the wedding day, Crown Prince Tian De would definitely come to congratulate. If Master did not change his mind about punishing Tian Sheng, I would take advantage of Tian De’s loss of the Crown Prince Seal’s protection for thirty-three days in the Jade Pure Realm. With my true fire power and Bi You’s Cang Hai Bow, I would kill him. I cannot let him harm Tian Sheng. I had hoped to bide my time, endure humiliation for five hundred years, and gather the power of the heavens to strike him down righteously. But now I must take this step. I fear I must exhaust my divine power to counter his Crown Prince Seal. No matter what, heaven and earth must not fall into this villain’s hands. Master, do not blame me. If you persist, your wedding will be disrupted by me. You and Lu Xue still have many chances. Tian Sheng’s fate rests on this strike.

Zi Zhen indeed came, heavily pregnant, kneeling before him and Lu Xue, pleading for Tian Sheng. “Godfather, even if you don’t consider Tian Sheng’s loyalty and life risk with you, or my feelings, please spare Tian Sheng for Fei’er’s sake.”

“Yu Fei again! A lingering ghost! Until expelled from the sect, a stranger demands this and that using these ties! Han Qing! Expel that wretched woman!” Lu Xue shouted angrily.

“Don’t be angry. I’ll handle this personally,” he said, then stood and returned with the sect registry, handing it to Lu Xue. She read aloud:

“Rebellious disciple Yu Fei deceived his superiors, behaved promiscuously, seduced the Imperial Master, and disgraced the sect. After 43,510 years in the Jade Pure Realm, he is expelled from the sect.”

“Is that satisfactory?” Master asked.

Lu Xue chuckled, “Satisfied. This is my Han Qing brother.”

“Godfather! You can’t treat Tian Sheng and Fei’er this way!” Zi Zhen cried.

“Why not?” he said coldly.

I heard everything clearly outside the study... In the end, he personally expelled me from the sect... tears welled in my heart but could not fall.

Lu Xue linked arms with her Han Qing and went out to the moonlit garden. Zi Zhen walked out crying.

“Zi Zhen,” I called.

“Huh? Do you need something?” she asked.

“Don’t worry about Tian De. We will rescue him. Don’t descend to Kunlun yet. Someone will come to take you. Follow them to Qingqiu and stay with the Holy Maiden to ensure your and your child’s safety. Do not return to Tian Sheng’s army or linger here.” I thought of Keke, still missing and fate unknown. Zi Zhen must not suffer further harm. With Lu Xue here, Jade Pure Realm is no longer safe for her. She must leave.

“Who are you?” Zi Zhen asked.

“Not important. Tian Sheng arranged for me to meet you,” I said.

“Oh, why should I trust you?” Zi Zhen was getting wiser.

“Peach Blossom fate, secret betrothal, mutton fat jade pendant, life and death together. Yu Fei as matchmaker, Yunxiao as witness. Can you trust now?” I asked.

“I’ll follow your lead,” Zi Zhen said.

I received a fox message from Qingqiu. “Yes, descend the mountain. Qingqiu sent someone to pick you up. Listen to me, listen to Yu Fei. You’ll understand when you reach Qingqiu.”

Zi Zhen, puzzled, followed the guards sent by Princess Chang Yang. Soon after, Chang Yang sent a fox message confirming Zi Zhen’s safe arrival.

Twelfth Senior Brother ran urgently to find Chun Feng, “Senior Uncle! Senior Uncle! Master has expelled the young junior sister from the sect!”

Chun Feng flew over from the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion, “Explain clearly.”

“Rebellious disciple Yu Fei deceived his superiors, behaved promiscuously, seduced the Imperial Master, disgraced the sect...” Twelfth Senior Brother read aloud.

“Enough!” Chun Feng erupted in purple flames; he was truly upset.

I held Chun Feng’s arm gently, “Chun Feng, it was like this 2,500 years ago, and it remains so now. Don’t pressure him over Yu Fei anymore. Doing so is like striking Yu Fei with the Dawn Sun Spring Palm again, wounding her utterly.”

“But he can’t slander Little Crow like that; it’s too unfair...”

“There is no Yu Fei in this world anymore... Let it be.” I was heartbroken, but I couldn’t watch them tear each other apart.

“Senior Uncle, calm down. Even if it’s written there, we won’t release it,” Twelfth Senior Brother said.

Chun Feng’s spirit flames dimmed. “When Yunxiao goes mad, he’s even more wicked than I am. How can he not tolerate Little Crow?”

“They cannot tolerate any sand in their eyes. Today, please spend more time with Little Bai for me. I want to rest,” I bowed deeply to Chun Feng.

Chun Feng supported my arm. “I know. Go.”

Twelfth Senior Brother scratched his head, “Senior Uncle, rare! Rare! Didn’t expect you and your lady to respect each other so much.”

“Hmm. Ah! No way! If I followed you all, you wouldn’t be my lady! Go away! Listen, this broken sect registry will be replaced and rewritten! Hear me? What he wrote is useless; the old is void! When he changes his mind, it will be rewritten!” Chun Feng said.

“Ah! That’s a plan! Senior Uncle is wise and heroic!” Twelfth Senior Brother smiled and left.

“Why deceive yourself like this? If you erase it in your heart, how can you rewrite it...” I was distracted.

Lying under the big pear tree by the Silent Reflection Lake in Memory Immortal Valley, holding a wine flask... a few sips and I was tipsy... “I’m no longer your disciple; I don’t have to follow your rules anymore. Now you can’t control whether I drink or not. Today I’ll drink freely! Celebrate properly!”

“Gulp, gulp,” I drank continuously, then tipped the flask over. “Why is it empty so soon?” I tossed the flask disdainfully, looking at my beautiful reflection in the lake. I smiled, “You shameless face! Ming Zhong, we were husband and wife, yet I never truly saw your face, even in death!”

I closed my eyes... “The melody lingers... oh... on the cloud peak, inside Jade Void Palace. He and Lu Xue played a tune called ‘High Mountains and Flowing Water’—a meeting of kindred souls. This tune belongs only to heaven...” After a while, the tune shifted to “Ancient Plain Sand and Falling Wild Geese.”

“Beautiful! A soulmate in forty thousand years is rare. Now they fly together! Truly gratifying!” I wanted to summon the Mystic Crystal Sword to celebrate but recalled it was on Lu Xue’s wrist. I sighed... no sword dance, then I’ll perform the Empty Mountain Flying Goose Palm!

High mountains and flowing water, a soulmate is found,
Kunlun returning geese linger in pairs,
Listening to celestial sounds above the nine skies,
Sea eye cold abyss wind returns,
Chasing immortals on cliffs with falling snow,
By the Silent Reflection Lake, the beloved arrives...

I struck the wind palm, scattering pear blossoms from the tree, petals flying everywhere... In the haze, it looked like Kunlun’s flying snow, like a dream returning to past years—white all around, sparkling with tears, my feet light as air... Legs weakened, I leaned on the tree...

On the Viewing Cloud Terrace, he stood alone gazing at the sea of clouds. Suddenly, he leaned forward and took a step ahead...

“Han Qing, what are you looking at?” Lu Xue came to his side.

He stopped, “Kunlun flying snow.”

“Oh? Where?” Lu Xue asked, gazing at the vast sea of clouds.

“In the clouds,” he said.

“This endless cloud really looks like snow. Han Qing, don’t you think our names match perfectly?” Lu Xue said dreamily.

“I do,” he replied.

In Memory Immortal Valley, I leaned against the tree, feeling dizzy and faint. Who is Master? I no longer recognize him. Gone. Who is Ming Zhong? I cannot see clearly; he has vanished too. Who is Xue Shan? A fleeting brilliant meteor, gone without a trace. In a daze, three similar figures merged into one living Han Qing, who was taken away by Lu Xue...

“Take it all! I want nothing! Han Qing, Lu Xue, you are perfect for each other! Perfect...” I smiled and fell asleep on the pear tree branch in Memory Immortal Valley...