Chapter 72: What Could There Be

“I can let go, but the master will not. What he desires, he will obtain. What he believes is always correct. The item must be on you. Whether you release me or not is irrelevant, for he will arrive soon,” Qin Li said, gazing at Xuan Yuan Jue Temple.

“Is that so? This Cold City grows ever livelier!” Xuan Yuan Jue Temple showed no fear and ordered the cell door opened, allowing Qin Li to leave.

He was certain Qin Li was not responsible for the fifteen deaths. As for Lian Bai Liu, she would not confess, and he had no evidence. So for the moment, he let her go. The martial world was small; sooner or later, the truth would come to light.

Eventually, their paths would cross again, and then she would not be able to escape.

Qin Li left the prison, wandering aimlessly through the streets.

Ye Xuan found her and informed her of the master’s matters. Together, they arrived at the forest as scheduled.

“The master does not seem to have arrived yet,” Qin Li observed, finding the place empty. Ye Xuan shook his head.

“He’s already here,” Ye Xuan sensed a powerful, oppressive energy. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, and before them stood a figure.

“Greetings, master.”

“Greetings, master.”

Their voices rang out in unison. The man ahead did not turn, but both knew without a doubt it was their master.

“You two are my most capable subordinates, yet this matter has greatly disappointed me,” the man said, turning to face them. His handsome face bore a long scar, making him appear dangerously cold, shrouded in an aura of death and decay.

“I’m sorry, master,” Qin Li hastily replied. Ye Xuan remained silent, knowing that if the master wished to punish them, he would not bother with words—they would not even be granted the opportunity to speak.

“Hmph,” the man snorted coldly. He was indeed their master, Bai Ming, lord of Ming Tower.

“Within ten days, you must retrieve the gemstone from them. Do you understand?”

“But Xuan Yuan Jue Temple doesn’t have it,” Qin Li had searched many times, examining countless gems, but never found the one depicted on the canvas.

“Keep searching,” Bai Ming commanded, his anger making Qin Li tremble with fear.

“Yes, master,” Qin Li replied quickly, truly afraid of Bai Ming. Ye Xuan stood silently, attentive to their exchange.

“Ye Xuan,” Bai Ming called.

“Master,” Ye Xuan addressed him respectfully, though theirs was more a relationship of employer and employee.

“What is your opinion?” Bai Ming questioned.

“My opinion? Honestly, I have none,” Ye Xuan bowed his head, seeming to ponder deeply. Bai Ming stepped closer and said,

“I’m giving you three days. You must find something for me, because I only have ten days. If we fail to obtain the item, we die together!”

Bai Ming was not merely threatening them; in truth, he was. Ming Tower could not fall.

“Master, who is the opponent? Why must they have the gemstone? How did it come to this?” Ye Xuan was perplexed. If it was so impossible, why did the master accept this perilous case?

“You shouldn’t ask what you shouldn’t know. It’s the only way to live longer, Ye Xuan,” Bai Ming turned away, dissatisfied with Ye Xuan’s attitude, though Ye Xuan cared little for the matter.

“Yes, master,” Ye Xuan replied, wisely not defying Bai Ming openly.

Then, Bai Ming outlined a plan—difficult, but they had no choice, their lives at stake.

The legendary gemstone said to change everything—whether it was in Xuan Yuan Jue Temple’s hands, was only a rumor.

The troubles facing Xuan Yuan Jue Temple mounted, all because of a legend, driving him into this predicament.

Not only did he face skilled opponents like Qin Li and Ye Xuan, but also petty villains launching attacks, and old enemies stirring with malicious intent. Now, stripped of power, he was trapped in Cold City, a remote region.

He did not fear death, but he needed to protect those close to him, no matter who they were.

He gazed at the still-sleeping Si Nuo Sang. This legend had implicated so many.

When Si Nuo Sang awoke, she found Xuan Yuan Jue Temple staring at her, feeling embarrassed.

“Could you not look at me like that? It’s making me uncomfortable,” Si Nuo Sang hurriedly sat up, straightened her clothes, and glanced at the sky—it was already midnight. To wake at such an hour was truly odd.

“Go back to sleep; it’s the middle of the night—where would you go?” Xuan Yuan Jue Temple pulled her back, and the two lay together.

“But I can’t sleep at all,” Si Nuo Sang muttered beside him.

“Why don’t we talk about stars, the moon, or our dreams and ambitions?” Xuan Yuan Jue Temple teased mischievously.

“You’re ridiculous! There are no stars, no moon. As for dreams and ambitions, you should ask yourself. I have nothing; I just want to leave quietly on my own!”

“I don’t think you can leave, not with me here,” Si Nuo Sang’s face flushed red, and she quickly burrowed under the quilt, not daring to show her head.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m just tired. Don’t bother me!”

“I’ll bother you anyway.”

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Dawn broke, the sky pale as fish belly.

The two slept soundly on the bed. Si Nuo Sang nestled in Xuan Yuan Jue Temple’s arms, her bare white arm resting on his chest, a picture of contentment.

If only things could remain like this.

An hour later, Yuan Qian Lü knocked urgently at the door.

“My lord, my lord, something’s wrong!”

His voice was anxious, rousing both Xuan Yuan Jue Temple and Si Nuo Sang. They hurried to find their clothes.

Si Nuo Sang was frantic, while Xuan Yuan Jue Temple dressed slowly, unhurried. After all, he was a man—what did it matter if a man saw him? But he remembered she was a woman, so in haste, his clothes were all askew.

He went to her side and helped her tidy up.

“Come in,” he called to the person outside.

Yuan Qian Lü pushed the door open at once, seeing them dressing and the chaotic bed—perhaps he had come at the wrong moment, but there was no time to dwell on it.

“What’s the matter? Speak.”