You Were Never Alone

Since it concerned Chu Yunfei's life and death, he naturally couldn't be careless. Not being completely certain of the person in front of him, even though he used Azure Void Palm and Star Chasing Moon Catching Steps, Chu Qing couldn't fully relax.

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

Chu Tian intentionally displayed Star Chasing Moon Catching Steps and Azure Void Palm.

This coincided perfectly with Chu Qing's thoughts.

Finally, when Chu Qing called out Chu Tian's identity and asked him to lift his mask, everything finally settled.

The two brothers were silent for a while, then laughed at the same time.

After they finished laughing, Chu Qing also reached out and took off his own mask.

Chu Tian stared at his face for a while. Chu Qing was starting to feel a little embarrassed from being watched like that. Only then did Chu Tian speak, his gaze dimming:

"You've suffered all these years, haven't you?"

"It hasn't been too comfortable, but it hasn't been too bad either."

Chu Qing smiled, not wanting to dwell on the topic:

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

"As of now, it's still unclear," Chu Tian said softly.

"Last year, we were clearly minding our own business, but after the New Year, spies from the Valley of Ten Thousand Nights started appearing in the city.

"Because of this, City Lord Wu wrote a letter to Gu Qianqiu. Although he didn't say it directly, he subtly reminded him not to cross the line.

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

"As similar incidents happened more frequently, City Lord Wu became annoyed, and the wording in his letters became increasingly stern. As a result, Gu Qianqiu didn't even bother to hide it and simply stopped replying."

Chu Qing nodded and asked again:

"Did Heavenly Dance City and the Valley of Ten Thousand Nights have conflicts in the past?"

"I heard Father mention that there were some in the early years, but back then, let alone you, even I wasn't born yet.

"The most recent period of animosity... should be four years ago. Father and Xin Youhen met on the road, and he insisted on sparring with Father's Azure Void Palm.

"They exchanged thirty-seven moves, and Xin Youhen took a palm strike. I heard it took him two years to recover.

"But to say that they would start a war just for that seems a bit unreasonable."

"Four years ago..." Chu Qing shook his head, feeling that such a sudden, massive conflict over something like that didn't make sense.

"However..." Chu Tian glanced at Chu Qing. "Hearing the message you gave Young Miss Wu today gave me a new idea."

"Oh?" Chu Qing was taken aback. "Did you find any clues in that sentence?"

Chu Tian nodded but didn't elaborate. Instead, he asked:

"You joined the Mirror of Sin?"

The question was abrupt, but it wasn't surprising that Chu Tian could tell.

He had seen the aftermath of Chu Qing's confrontation with the Mirror of Sin and could tell that while they used different martial arts, their styles were identical.

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

With a little thought, he reached that conclusion.

Chu Qing nodded, then shook his head:

"I've already defected from the Mirror of Sin. They're currently hunting me all over the world."

"Because of Father's matter?"

"Because of other things... Father's matter was just a coincidence that I stumbled upon."

After speaking, Chu Qing was momentarily stunned. Saying "Father" didn't seem so difficult after all... just like the earlier "Big Brother," he had said it without much thought.

Chu Tian suddenly smiled:

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

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

Chu Qing didn't speak, just lowered his head and looked at his feet.

The look of hope on Chu Tian's face gradually faded:

"You don't want to come home?"

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

Chu Qing smiled.

"I'll give this matter some serious thought."

Chu Tian watched him quietly for a moment before nodding gently.

"Alright. But Dad has really missed you all these years.

"No matter what you ultimately decide... when you have some free time, go home and see Dad."

"Okay."

Chu Qing agreed.

After this encounter, Chu Qing also understood that some things couldn't be escaped.

He had inherited everything from the original owner, so these entanglements were impossible to avoid.

Fortunately, Chu Tian wasn't unreasonable. If Chu Fan had been standing here today... then things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

That blockhead would have dragged him back, even if it meant carrying him.

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

Chu Qing wanted to continue the previous topic.

"...You're being hunted, so don't worry about these things.

"It's best to intervene as little as possible."

Chu Tian patted Chu Qing's shoulder.

"I, Dad, and City Lord Wu will handle these matters. You don't need to worry."

"Alright then."

Chu Qing smiled.

"Then I'll head back..."

"Third Brother."

Chu Tian called out, stopping him.

"If you're looking for me, you can enter through the south side gate. I'll leave a gap for you.

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

"Got it."

Chu Qing nodded and walked towards Heavenly Dance City.

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

"Wait a minute..."

"Something else?"

Chu Qing turned back helplessly.

"Big Brother, just say everything you need to say at once.

"Why are you being so wishy-washy?"

"You little brat, is that how you talk to your brother?"

Chu Tian couldn't help but laugh and scold him, then his expression turned serious as he spoke.

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

"But you have to remember..."

He paused slightly here, then chuckled.

"You are never alone."

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

"How cheesy. I'm leaving."

After speaking, he turned around and leaped up without looking back.

Only Chu Tian remained standing there, looking up at the sky, lost in thought for a while, before muttering with a low chuckle,

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

The moment he returned to Heavenly Dance City, it naturally caused another commotion on the city wall.

Tonight, the Heavenly Dance Guards on the city wall probably wouldn't be getting much sleep.

After Chu Qing returned to the inn, he changed out of his soaked night clothes, threw the mask onto the table, and stared blankly at the fine, dense raindrops outside the window.

After a while, he withdrew his gaze and his thoughts.

He sat down cross-legged on the bed...

Having learned from his last experience, he felt he needed to find a safe environment every time he claimed rewards and opened treasure chests.

With a thought, the interface popped up.

[One unopened martial arts treasure chest. Open?]

"Open!"

Chu Qing was much calmer now. He wasn't lacking internal energy for the moment, so whatever martial art he got, he could accept it.

Unless it was something like the Sunflower Manual or Evil Warding Swordplay... then he'd be sweating profusely.

But if the system gives it, I shouldn't need to castrate myself, right?

After all, the system can even help merge conflicting internal energies. This small matter shouldn't be too difficult for the system.

As he thought this, the prompt in front of him had already appeared.

[Opening successful. Obtained Saber Technique: Blood Saber Technique.]