C15 Chastity

Lee Xian gestured dismissively and, with his entourage in tow, left the rooftop laughing, without so much as a glance at Jie Mu.

Yu Wen breathed a sigh of relief once the group had departed.

She then noticed Jie Mu standing still, realizing that the young man had been incapacitated by a pressure point technique.

Turning to her senior brother, Yu Wen watched as he casually waved his hand, freeing Jie Mu from his paralysis.

However, having sustained the Machine Arts for an extended period, Jie Mu's internal energy was depleted, and he nearly collapsed. Thankfully, Yu Wen was there to catch him.

Jiang Feng beckoned the pair over.

Supporting Jie Mu, Yu Wen walked towards him, chiding, "Why did you have to provoke him? Do you have a death wish?"

Jie Mu didn't respond, but his face was a canvas of frustration and defiance.

Truth be told, Jie Mu couldn't quite understand his own reaction. He was usually someone who could take a hit and bounce back, but the harsh insults had been too much to bear.

Despite his cleverness, he was still a kid, and even the most tolerant teenager has their limits. His temperament was, after all, still forming.

Jiang Feng took hold of Jie Mu, pressing several points on his back before delivering a gentle pat.

While channeling internal energy into Jie Mu, Jiang Feng addressed Yu Wen, "Let him be. I heard everything. He's at fault, but that other kid is no saint either."

Yu Wen exhaled deeply, "I'm well aware. Lee Xian is far from a good person—nothing but a spoiled brat."

"If not for his father's influence and the resources of the Qilin Society, how could his internal energy possibly match mine?"

Once Jie Mu's meridians were realigned, Jiang Feng resumed speaking.

"Indeed, the energy within that young man is identical to Lee Huiye's—it's their family's Ink Profound Arts."

Yu Wen sighed, "That's why, even though our academy doesn't fear the Qilin Society, we're still in Duross, not Silent Sea or any other southern city."

"Moreover, Lee Huiye is currently in Duross. If anything were to happen, it would be disastrous."

Jie Mu sat cross-legged, channeling his energy to replenish his inner strength.

Yu Wen sighed and took a seat on a stool. "Looking at it now, I must attend tomorrow's banquet. That guy's tone wasn't one that could be resolved with mere pleasantries."

Jiang Feng remained silent, simply turning to point at a camera, leaving his intentions unclear.

Yu Wen, her thoughts racing, crushed a teacup in her hand. She then stood up, taking Jie Mu, who had just restored his energy, and they both departed.

After they left the rooftop, Jiang Feng continued to gaze at the camera. He pointed at himself, bowed slightly, and then walked away.

Moments later, the camera exploded into pieces that scattered across the floor.

Staff members rushed to clean up the mess, while Jiang Feng let out a soft sigh and retrieved a backpack from beneath the counter.

He caressed it fondly and chuckled, "Old buddy, it's time for us to stretch our legs again."

Meanwhile, in the vast laboratory, Chenmu remained fixated on the screen, locked in the moment of his stare-down with Jiang Feng.

He sighed as well but remained silent.

The young man next to him, brow furrowed, questioned, "What is Little Eleven up to? Is he planning to sabotage our scheme?"

"He's at a pivotal juncture; he can't afford to act rashly. If his technique fails, he'll be of no use even if he does go," Chenmu responded, gesturing for silence. "Jiang Feng has endured much over the years."

"His presence in Duross City was always going to be a variable. I anticipated this; there's no cause for concern."

The young man, looking at Chenmu, knew that among the Ninth Department's students, the one who understood the teacher best wasn't the eldest senior brother or the second senior sister, but rather himself, the third.

With hesitation, he asked, "Teacher, you're not planning to...?"

He trailed off, miming a throat-slitting motion.

Chenmu simply smiled, shook his head, and reclined in his chair, offering no further comment.

...

Yu Wen, with urgency, grabbed Jie Mu and they hurried down in the elevator to the ground floor. They then drove back to the Zhang family at Crouching Dragon Slope.

Throughout the journey, neither Yu Wen nor Jie Mu uttered a single word. Yu Wen was seething with anger, while Jie Mu was lost in thought, each preoccupied and ignoring the other.

Jie Mu realized he had stirred up trouble and pondered ways to defuse the situation. However, he couldn't help feeling powerless, recognizing the limitations of his own strength for the first time.

Upon their arrival at the Zhang family estate, Yu Wen, still fuming, dragged Jie Mu into a side courtyard. Without a word, she launched into a relentless beating, her frustration manifesting in silence and punches.

Jie Mu offered no resistance. He took the beating without a word of protest, allowing her to vent her anger without interference.

After a relentless ten minutes, Yu Wen finally ceased her assault, gasping for breath as she collapsed onto a stone bench in the courtyard.

Her anger only intensified as she observed Jie Mu, her frustration so palpable that she crushed a nearby pebble to dust with her bare hand.

Jie Mu, nursing his aches, retrieved a small bottle from his clothing and swallowed a medicinal pill. This was not the Nine-fragrance Light Pill, but a remedy specifically formulated by Han Han for treating bruises and injuries, bitter but remarkably effective.

Jie Mu understood that Yu Wen needed to release her pent-up anger. The nature of her internal cultivation meant that holding it in would only cause her harm.

Yu Wen, pointing accusingly at Jie Mu, challenged him, "Don't think you're off the hook just because you took a beating. You're supposed to be skilled, right? Why didn't you fight back? You had the audacity to brawl in such a place, and you're so capable! Why, in the past three years, did I not realize how capable you were? Fight? Why aren't you fighting now?"

Jie Mu met her gaze silently, recognizing that her emotions had gotten the better of her and that she needed time to cool off before returning to normal.

In a fit of rage, Yu Wen struck another stone, sending shards flying in all directions.

"I took you out for some fun, and you were worried I might inadvertently cause trouble. Little did I know, you're the one who's a magnet for it. Great, now we're in deep trouble, and you just shrink into the background like a turtle, don't you!"

Yu Wen was trembling with rage as she spoke, stamping her foot before continuing, "Let me tell you, tomorrow's banquet is going to be a huge problem for me. Do you understand?"

"One wrong move, and I might end up being dragged away to become someone's daughter-in-law. Do you get that, you jerk?"

Jie Mu furrowed his brow upon hearing this; the situation was unfolding in a way he hadn't anticipated.

He had assumed it was a life-or-death matter, but it turned out to be far more complicated than he had thought.

Seeing his helpless demeanor, Yu Wen couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

Jie Mu was taken aback when Yu Wen started crying. In a panic, he rushed to her side and placed a comforting hand on her back, only to be swiftly shrugged off.

This was the first time Yu Wen had cried in years, not since her eleventh senior brother had vanished. It was also the first time Jie Mu had witnessed her tears.

He was at a loss for how to console her, but the sight of her pained expression made it difficult for him to contain his own feelings of tenderness.

After a good cry, Yu Wen began to calm down.

Jie Mu gently wiped the tears from her face and said earnestly, "Yu Wen, you need to leave tonight. Find a moment to slip away quietly."

"Escape Duross City and make your way back to Fragrance Light Valley as soon as you can. With our teacher's influence, no one will dare to harm you."

Jie Mu gazed into her reddened eyes and, extending his arms, pulled her into his embrace.

This time, Yu Wen didn't resist or push him away; instead, she continued to weep, soaking Jie Mu's clothes with her tears.

After some time, Yu Wen nestled in Jie Mu's arms and began to speak in a whisper.

"I've known Lee Xian since I was a child. The Qilin Society has always been keen to win over our Anzhe Yu family, and so has East Prosperity. After considering all factors, our family elders decided to side with the Qilin Society."

"And I was the one chosen for the arranged marriage to Lee Xian. It was supposed to be a simple betrothal from childhood, but it's riddled with sordid schemes."

Lee Xian was a scoundrel from a young age, walking around with his nose in the air, yet he was utterly clueless.

He recklessly misbehaved, relying solely on the reputation of his well-regarded father. How could I, Yu Wen, possibly marry such a person? That's why I ran away from home.

Eventually, my family sent people after me, and East Prosperity, determined to prevent the marriage, even sent assassins. Can you believe I was only six years old at the time?

Upon hearing this, Jie Mu clenched his fists, understanding all too well the immense pain a six-year-old girl must have felt in such dire circumstances.

As Yu Wen recounted these harrowing experiences, she began to cry once more. After some time, she managed to speak through her sobs.

"Later, my teacher rescued me. He brought me back to the academy, to Fragrance Light Valley, and accepted me as his disciple to study Machine Arts."

"My teacher's wife once assured me that as long as I stayed within Silent Sea, I would be under their protection. But now, I'm no longer in Silent Sea, without my teacher and his wife. I have to resign myself to my fate."

With that, Yu Wen's tears flowed anew.

Jie Mu stroked Yu Wen's back, exhaling a deep sigh, and spoke to her with tenderness, "Silly girl, didn't I tell you to run away by yourself?"

Yu Wen looked up at Jie Mu, her face streaked with tears, and exclaimed, "You'll die!"

Jie Mu offered her a reassuring smile. "What is there to fear in death when it's for you?"

Yu Wen cast her eyes down, her expression turning steely. "I will attend the banquet tomorrow."

Jie Mu wanted to dissuade her, but seeing the determination in her eyes, he simply sighed.

"How could I let you go by yourself tomorrow? We'll go together, and whatever challenges arise, we'll face them side by side."

Yu Wen wiped away her tears, incredulous. "You're mad. If we do that, we'll both end up dead!"

"Just listen to me, don't hesitate. Tonight, under the cover of darkness, you need to flee as far and as fast as you can. As the direct disciple of our teacher, they won't lay a finger on me!"

Jie Mu gazed into her eyes with profound affection and gentleness.

"Didn't you mention it before? Lee Xian is the one who wants to marry you, as per the arrangement made by your family. Even our teacher is powerless to intervene."

"The authorities of Region No.1 must also recognize the marriage."

"Then what good are you? Going there will only provoke them, and you'll end up with a fate far worse." Yu Wen expressed with urgency.

Jie Mu bowed his head and gave Yu Wen a brief, light kiss on the lips, pulling away as quickly as it had begun. He gazed deeply into her eyes.

"I've liked you since the moment I first saw you three years ago."

Jie Mu and Yu Wen locked eyes, and in that instant, time seemed to stand still.

Unbeknownst to Jie Mu, at that very moment, a gate was slowly opening in the depths of his soul.