You Were Never Alone

Chu Yunfei's life and death were at stake, so naturally, he could not afford to be careless. Without being able to fully confirm the identity of the person before him, even if the man had used the Azure Void Palm and the Star Chasing Moon Catching Steps, Chu Qing could not completely set his mind at ease.

Therefore, the moment he saw Chu Tian, Chu Qing had already made up his mind.

Chu Tian had deliberately displayed the Star Chasing Moon Catching Steps and the Azure Void Palm.

This happened to coincide with Chu Qing's own intentions.

Only when Chu Qing finally exposed Chu Tian's identity and made him remove his face covering did everything finally settle like dust.

The two brothers were each silent for a while before they smiled at the same time.

After laughing, Chu Qing reached up and removed his own mask as well.

Chu Tian stared at his face for a while, making Chu Qing feel a little embarrassed under his gaze. Only then did Chu Tian speak, his eyes dimming.

"Have you suffered all these years?"

"My life hasn't exactly been comfortable, but it hasn't been too bad either."

Chu Qing smiled, unwilling to dwell on the subject.

"What exactly is going on between the Valley of Ten Thousand Nights and Heavenly Dance City?"

"At present, it's still unclear."

Chu Tian spoke softly.

"Just last year, we kept to our own wells and never crossed each other's rivers. But after the New Year, scouts from the Valley of Ten Thousand Nights were discovered in the city one after another.

"For this, City Lord Wu wrote a letter to Gu Qianqiu. Though he did not state it outright, he warned him in private not to overstep his bounds.

"But Gu Qianqiu's reply claimed that he knew nothing about it...

"As such incidents became more frequent, City Lord Wu grew angry. The wording of his letters became increasingly harsh, yet Gu Qianqiu did not even bother to keep up appearances. He simply stopped replying altogether."

Chu Qing nodded, then asked again.

"Have Heavenly Dance City and the Valley of Ten Thousand Nights fought before?"

"I heard Father mention that they had, in the early years. But back then, let alone you, even I hadn't been born yet.

"As for their most recent grudge... it should have been four years ago. Father encountered Xin Youhen by the roadside, and Xin Youhen insisted on testing Father's Azure Void Palm.

"They exchanged thirty-seven moves. Xin Youhen took a palm strike and, supposedly, needed two years to recover.

"But if they were truly going to war merely over that matter, it doesn't quite make sense."

"Four years ago..."

Chu Qing shook his head. It did not seem reasonable for them to suddenly make such a huge fuss over something like this.

"However..."

Chu Tian glanced at Chu Qing.

"After hearing the message you gave Young Miss Wu today, I have a new idea."

"Oh?"

Chu Qing was startled.

"Did you find some clue in those words?"

Chu Tian nodded, but instead of explaining, he asked.

"You joined the Mirror of Sin?"

The question was somewhat abrupt, but it was not strange that Chu Tian could see it.

He had seen the aftermath of Chu Qing fighting that Mirror of Sin assassin. Though the martial arts they used differed, their styles had come from the same mold.

Afterward, Chu Qing had personally told Wu Qianhuan that he was an assassin.

With a little deduction, the conclusion was obvious.

Chu Qing nodded, then shook his head.

"I've already betrayed the Mirror of Sin. They're hunting me all over the world now."

"Because of Father?"

"Because of other matters... Father's situation was only a coincidence. I happened to stumble upon it."

After saying that, Chu Qing froze for a moment. Calling him Father did not seem as difficult as he had imagined... just like when he had called Chu Tian "Big Brother" earlier, the words had slipped out without much thought.

Chu Tian suddenly smiled.

"That's good. Since you've betrayed the Mirror of Sin, just come home.

"What does the Mirror of Sin hunting their traitor have to do with the Third Young Master of the Chu Family?"

Chu Qing said nothing, merely lowering his head to look at the ground beneath his feet.

The hope on Chu Tian's face gradually faded.

"You don't want to go home?"

"Let's talk about it later..."

Chu Qing smiled.

"I need to think this through carefully first."

Chu Tian watched him quietly for a while before nodding softly.

"Fine. But Father has truly missed you all these years.

"No matter what you ultimately decide... when you have the time, go home and see Father."

"All right."

Chu Qing agreed.

After this encounter, Chu Qing also understood that some things could not be avoided by running away.

He had inherited everything from the original owner of this body. There was no way to escape these entanglements.

Fortunately, Chu Tian was reasonable. If Chu Fan had been standing here today instead... reason would have been useless.

That blockhead would have carried him home over his shoulder even if he had to force him.

"As for the Valley of Ten Thousand Nights and Heavenly Dance City..."

Chu Qing still wanted to continue their earlier topic.

"...You're the one being hunted, so stop concerning yourself with these matters.

"The less you act, the better. Avoid acting whenever possible."

Chu Tian patted Chu Qing on the shoulder.

"Father, City Lord Wu, and I will handle these matters. You need not worry."

"So be it."

Chu Qing smiled.

"Then I'll head back..."

"Third Brother."

Chu Tian called out to stop him.

"If you want to find me, enter through the side gate in the south. I'll leave a crack open for you.

"Once you're inside, you can come directly to my courtyard."

"Got it."

Chu Qing nodded and walked in the direction of Heavenly Dance City.

But as he watched Chu Qing's retreating figure, Chu Tian spoke again.

"Wait..."

"Something else?"

Chu Qing turned back helplessly.

"Big Brother, say everything you want to say in one breath.

"Why are you being so fussy?"

"You little brat, is that any way to speak to your brother?"

Chu Tian could not help laughing as he scolded him, then his expression turned solemn.

"No matter what you ultimately decide, Big Brother will support you.

"But remember..."

At this point, he paused slightly, then smiled.

"You were never alone."

Chu Qing silently looked at Chu Tian for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"That's cheesy. I'm leaving."

With that, he turned around and sprang away without looking back.

Only Chu Tian remained where he was. He gazed up at the heavens in a daze for quite some time before quietly laughing and cursing.

"Stinking brat, who are you calling cheesy..."

The moment Chu Qing returned to Heavenly Dance City, he naturally caused another bout of chaos atop the city walls.

Most of the Heavenly Dance Guards on the walls would likely be unable to sleep tonight.

After returning to the inn, Chu Qing changed out of his soaked night clothes and tossed his mask onto the table. Watching the fine, dense raindrops outside the window, he wore a distant expression.

After a long while, he withdrew his gaze and gathered his thoughts as well.

He sat cross-legged on the bed...

With his previous experience, he felt that every time he claimed a reward and opened a treasure chest, he needed to find a safe place first.

With a thought, the interface appeared.

One unopened Martial Arts Treasure Chest. Open it?

"Open!"

Chu Qing was much more composed now. For the time being, he did not lack internal cultivation. No matter what kind of martial art he obtained, he could accept it.

Unless it gave him something like the Sunflower Manual or the Evil Warding Swordplay... then he would be drenched in cold sweat.

"But if it's given by the system, I probably won't need to castrate myself, right?

"After all, the system can even help fuse conflicting internal energy. Such a small matter should not be too difficult for it."

As he thought this, a prompt popped up before him.

Successfully opened. Obtained saber technique: Blood Saber Technique.