Chapter Seventy-Six: Encounter on the Road

When Che Wuyou killed Yang Cheng, he did not understand the source of his inexplicable urge to kill, but now he knows clearly that Miao Shilin’s persistent administration of the green medicinal soup was the culprit behind his uncontrollable murderous impulse. Though he cannot say for certain whether killing Yang Cheng was his own will or the influence of the green potion, he knows he does not regret it. Perhaps his body was always predisposed to such madness.

Yet, no matter what, Che Wuyou had never considered harming Han Feng. He is sure that the murderous thoughts he felt toward Han Feng yesterday were inseparable from the effects of the green medicine. But who could he tell? Should he confide in Liu Lanzhi? Would she believe him?

Che Wuyou is now almost certain Han Feng and the other were not killed by Liu Lanzhi, even though all the evidence points to her. But he trusts Liu Lanzhi, just as he would never deceive her, he believes she would never lie to him. Since she denies it, then it cannot be her.

“I... I killed Yang Cheng. Even after discovering his true identity, I still killed him. He was too dangerous—I had to do it. I lied to you, that was my fault... Yesterday, had you not been present, I might have killed Han Feng as well... But that wasn’t my true intention. My body is changing; some things I do are beyond my control... But I truly did not kill Han Feng and Sister Lu, Lanzhi, I swear I did not kill them,” Che Wuyou stammered, his voice disjointed and pained as he looked at Liu Lanzhi, trying desperately to explain himself.

“Heh, Che Wuyou, I very much want to hear a definitive answer from you, I want you to tell me confidently they weren’t killed by you. But can’t you find a better excuse? Even for my sake, you should come up with something more believable. The reason you’ve given is so flimsy it doesn’t even convince me—how could it convince anyone else?”

“You say your body has changed—what change exactly? You claim your actions are not your own—then who’s controlling you? Who could possibly control you? Speak! Why won’t you speak?” Liu Lanzhi sneered at Che Wuyou, surprised he still tried to deceive her. Though she wanted to hear his explanation, she did not wish to listen to such a clumsy lie, one so easily exposed.

“I... I can’t say it now. Even if I explained, you wouldn’t believe me. Someday you’ll understand. I have my reasons,” Che Wuyou said, unable to reveal that Miao Shilin was manipulating him, or that the green medicinal soup he took every morning was suspect. To Liu Lanzhi, Miao Shilin was like a father. Even on ordinary days, she would not listen to such accusations, perhaps even turn hostile. Given the circumstances, Che Wuyou could not bring himself to speak.

“...Very well, then I’ll wait for that day to come.” Liu Lanzhi, angry, pained, and disappointed, turned away. In the end, Che Wuyou was still unwilling to clarify things.

She no longer wished to continue the conversation. Even if they talked more, knowing Che Wuyou, he would never provide any useful information. Though she still believed he had not committed murder, what good was her faith? Che Wuyou remained evasive, unwilling to offer even a convincing excuse. His excuses could not deceive her—how could anyone else believe them?

“Is your identification jade still with you?... I found your identification jade on Han Feng’s body.” Che Wuyou touched the jade tucked in his clothes, watching Liu Lanzhi’s retreating figure quicken its pace, unable to help but speak.

“What are you trying to say? What are you trying to prove?... My identification jade is still with me. Do you want to search me?” Liu Lanzhi snorted coldly. Her steps faltered for a moment, then abruptly accelerated, her silhouette vanishing swiftly into the vast night.

Che Wuyou’s hand froze on the jade. What did Lanzhi mean? The jade was clearly in his possession—why did she claim it was still on her?

Che Wuyou stood dazed for a while. Unable to make sense of it, he stopped trying. Things were not as dire as he imagined; as long as Lanzhi still trusted him, eventually the truth would come to light...

He pulled himself together, preparing to mount his horse, when suddenly a strange crimson hue appeared before him. In the darkness of night, the world seemed awash in blood-red, and within his heart a voice screamed madly: “Kill, kill, kill! Slaughter all—prove the path with blood!”

The frenzy overwhelmed him instantly, as if he had returned to years ago, when his sea of consciousness nearly collapsed under agony. Clutching his head, he yearned to find a crowd and unleash his rage in a killing spree. He howled madly at the sky, reached for his sword at his waist—he would kill everyone. But this time, his hand grasped nothing; his sword was not by his side...

A cold wind, laced with snowflakes, blew against him, striking his body and face. He shivered involuntarily, his mind clearing in an instant. The murderous madness receded like the tide, leaving him drenched in sweat, his neck shrinking as he felt an unusual chill in the night.

Che Wuyou gazed blankly at the vast darkness. Where should he go? Where could he go? He thought of the Che family, of Guhe City—could he return? No, recalling that nightmare-like place, he shook his head quickly; he must not go back to Guhe City.

He mounted the horse Liu Lanzhi had left for him, urging it into a wild run. He did not know how far he had traveled, nor how long he had been riding. He only remembered day breaking, then night falling, then day again... He did not know where he was now, but he knew he was starving, needing something to eat.

Che Wuyou, ragged and worn like a beggar, his shoulder-length hair loose, led an old horse through a quiet mountain forest, searching for non-toxic wild fruits. Fortunately, his deep study of medicinal texts left him intimately familiar with plants, so finding safe fruits was not difficult.

“Come out, all of you! The three of you are no match for me,” suddenly a voice rang out as if beside Che Wuyou’s ear, and a figure shot up into the sky.

Startled, Che Wuyou staggered, quickly raising his head to look at the figure suspended high above. Clad in white as pure as freshly fallen snow, the figure exuded an astonishingly cold aura, his body like a giant glacier. Even from afar, Che Wuyou shuddered.

Che Wuyou tried to see the figure’s face, but the space around him seemed twisted—no matter how hard he tried, he could only make out a vague silhouette. Unwilling to give up, he rubbed his eyes and tried again.

At that moment, shadows nearby rose like ghosts, shooting into the sky. Each wielded strange weapons, moving nimbly through the air, surrounding the man in white and circling around him. Che Wuyou, pulling his old horse, retreated in shock—these people had been all around him, yet he had not sensed a single presence.

“So, only ten of you? Good. You ten fools dare block my path—such boldness!” The white-clad figure sneered, watching the shadows circling him.

“Haha, how arrogant, youngster! What if you add me to the mix?” Suddenly, a shriveled voice sounded, vague and indistinct, as if both near and impossibly distant, making it hard to discern its origin.

“Who are you? Why hide in the shadows, afraid to show yourself?” The man in white was startled, glancing around. He was no longer as composed as before—clearly, the newcomer possessed extraordinary skill, enough to unsettle even the proudest.

“Young man, I’m here for the Completion Pill. If you know what’s good for you, hand it over... If you do, I’ll let you leave unharmed,” the shriveled voice spoke again.

“The Completion Pill? How could I have such a thing? You must be joking. That pill is priceless—how could I possess it? If I did, I’d have taken it long ago, not kept it till now.” The white-clad man seemed genuinely surprised—the pursuit had been for the Completion Pill.

“Hmph! What a disobedient child, lying to my face... Your Tianshan Sword Sect mobilized so many just to escort the Completion Pill, didn’t you? I tracked you here—how could I be mistaken?”

“Senior, you’re truly mistaken. Think about it: the Completion Pill is priceless. If our sect were indeed escorting it, how would someone like me be tasked with the job? Tianshan Sword Sect boasts countless experts; among the elders, I’m barely at the bottom. If they were escorting such a precious pill, surely the guardian elders would be involved—it would never fall to me.” The man in white spread his hands, appealing to the sky.

As he finished, silence fell. Indeed, Tianshan Sword Sect had many masters, and though the man before them was formidable, it was unlikely he would be chosen for such a task. Perhaps his words had planted doubt, for even the shriveled voice fell quiet, likely pondering whether he had been deceived.