Qiao Wanmian 4

Li Xiangyi had barely managed to heal most of his internal injuries before he publicly tried Yun Biqiu in front of the sect's disciples and personally slew the traitor who had not only poisoned him but also nearly harmed his brothers in the sect.

Before he could catch his breath, he received an urgent letter from his master. It contained only two words: "Return immediately." But knowing his master, he could tell the man must be extremely anxious.

So he hurriedly made arrangements for the Sigu Sect's various affairs. Having witnessed how Ji Hanfo and the others had behaved, Li Xiangyi no longer dared place his trust in them. He promoted Liu Rujing, Jiang Wuya, and others to keep one another in check.

By the time Li Xiangyi dragged his ailing body back to Mount Yun Yin, he found his master stripped of his internal cultivation, his master's wife with fury written all over her face, and his senior brother, who had clearly been dead for only a few days.

The first thing his master said upon seeing him was to pass on a message from Qiao Wanmian: "There's no need to thank me. I've already helped you find your senior brother's corpse."

Thinking of Qiao Wanmian's words and seeing the sorrow in his master's eyes, the clever Li Xiangyi immediately understood much. In recent days, he had endured betrayal, a duel, guilt, and grievous injuries. To stop Qiao Wanmian from going on a killing spree, he had been forced to return to the Sigu Sect, where he had worked nonstop to handle the many matters left in the war's wake and minimize the impact of the war with the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance on the common people.

His injuries still unhealed, Li Xiangyi could hold on no longer. His vision went black, and he fainted.

When he opened his eyes again, the sky was already dark. His master's wife was watching him with concern, and the moment he woke, she brought him a bowl of medicine. His master stood behind her, looking a little embarrassed. "Miss Qiao didn't say you were this badly hurt. If I'd known earlier, I wouldn't have passed on her message. Look how angry it made you."

Qin Po glared at Qi Mushan in exasperation. "Child, your injuries haven't healed yet. I'd say Master Wuliao's Brahma Needle Technique is only keeping them in check for now. And that poison in you-why is it so vicious? It looks as though most of it has been purged, but what remains has clung to your bones and seeped into your marrow. It's very troublesome. How did you end up like this?"

Li Xiangyi smiled. "There's no need to worry, Shiniang. What remains of the Bicha may be troublesome, but with my Yangzhou Man, I can naturally dispel it over time."

Qin Po said sadly, "It's all my fault for failing to teach Shan Gudao properly. He nearly harmed your master and brought you to this state.

"Your master is no use either. He was so easily tricked out of his internal cultivation. Otherwise, he could have used it to help suppress the poison.

"Don't go anywhere for the next few days. I'll nurse your internal injuries first, and then I'll use my internal cultivation to help you dispel the poison. Yours and mine share the same origin, so it'll be easier with my help."

At the mention of Shan Gudao's name, Li Xiangyi's expression darkened for a moment. Only after composing himself did he smile and answer Qin Po, "I'll do as you say, Shiniang."

Qin Po watched Li Xiangyi drink his medicine and eat his congee before gathering the bowls and chopsticks and leaving.

Only after Qin Po had gone did Qi Mushan carefully approach Li Xiangyi. Seeing that his complexion looked all right now, he let down his guard and told him everything: how Shan Gudao had barged in while he was in seclusion, provoked him into Qi Deviation with news of Li Xiangyi, and then tricked him out of his internal cultivation.

Afterward, he sighed. "I taught that disciple for so many years, yet I never imagined he'd turn out to be someone who would betray his master and renounce his ancestors. If I'd known, I'd never have brought him back to the mountain. He nearly harmed me, and he deceived you until you ended up like this.

"Fortunately, Miss Qiao arrived in time. Otherwise, I'd have died without ever knowing why."

As Li Xiangyi's master, Qi Mushan knew his martial arts better than anyone. If someone close to him had not harmed him, how could he have ended up poisoned and gravely injured?

Shan Gudao had been closest to Li Xiangyi. Since he could deceive his own master, how could he have spared Li Xiangyi, who surpassed him at every turn?

Thus, Qi Mushan had long since assumed that Shan Gudao was the one who had poisoned Li Xiangyi.

Li Xiangyi did not want to explain how he had been poisoned; it would only make his master and Shiniang worry more. In any case, Yun Biqiu, Shan Gudao, and their like were dead now, so he might as well let the assumption stand.

"Master, are you saying A Mian killed Shan Gudao?"

Qi Mushan winked and raised his eyebrows at Li Xiangyi. "Didn't I just say so? Miss Qiao asked me to tell you she'd helped you find your senior brother's corpse.

"Xiangyi, you've found yourself a fine sweetheart. She's as clever as ice and snow. It seems she suspected Shan Gudao long ago and came here to lie in wait for him. If it weren't for her, you wouldn't be seeing your master again."

A guess that stirred up towering waves formed in Li Xiangyi's mind. "Master, do you know where A Mian went?"

Qi Mushan looked at Li Xiangyi in surprise. "She's in seclusion on Mount Yun Yin right now! Have you two had a lovers' quarrel?"

Li Xiangyi forced a smile and said nothing more.

Seeing the weariness on his face, Qi Mushan said no more. He told him to rest well and left.

Li Xiangyi waited until his master had gone far away, then picked up Shaoshi and went to the place where Qiao Wanmian was in seclusion.

By the time Li Xiangyi entered Qiao Wanmian's bedroom, she had already heard him, stopped meditating, and come out.

As soon as she stepped out of the room, she found herself facing Li Xiangyi's Shaoshi Sword. "You're not A Mian. Who exactly are you? What have you done to her?"

Qiao Wanmian looked at the sword Li Xiangyi was pointing at her. Although Qiao Wanmian in this world had acted far too recklessly because of the backlash from demonic Qi, Li Xiangyi was the only one who had discovered the truth that she was not the original Qiao Wanmian.

Qiao Wanmian smiled. "Li Xiangyi, I don't think I'll forget you. You're the first to discover I'm not the original Qiao Wanmian, a pitiful, clever person abandoned and betrayed by others, so very much like me."

She reached out and pushed Shaoshi aside, then asked a question that had nothing to do with any of it. "I remember you didn't have your sword with you when you returned. What happened? Now that you've shown up, have the people who didn't even go looking for you back then found your sword too?"

Li Xiangyi put away the Shaoshi Sword. "You still haven't answered me. Where is A Mian?"

Qiao Wanmian said casually, "How would I know? I entered this body a long time ago, yet you, the person closest to Qiao Wanmian, only noticed now. If I hadn't killed Xiao Zijin and Shan Gudao, I doubt you'd have found out so soon.

"Anyway, when I arrived, there was only a breakup letter she'd just finished writing in front of me. There was no trace of the soul in this body."

Li Xiangyi frowned. "What breakup letter?"

For once, Qiao Wanmian was at a loss for words. She studied Li Xiangyi for a long while, then laughed silently. "No wonder Qiao Wanmian wanted to break up with you. When I warned you that Yun Biqiu and Shan Gudao couldn't be trusted, I tossed you a letter. Don't tell me you still haven't read it. You really are...

"How does that saying go? Oh, right-destined to be alone for life."

Though Li Xiangyi could be muddleheaded when it came to those close to him, in other respects he was worthy of his reputation as a genius. He was especially skilled at judging people and solving cases. He studied Qiao Wanmian's expression carefully and finally determined that she was not lying.

He sighed silently. He had only fought a duel with Di Feisheng, so why had the world become so unfamiliar? Those close to him had betrayed him, the woman he loved wanted to leave him, and most absurd of all was himself, immersed in his own world and unaware of everything.