Chapter 96

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“So Little Lin is not my half-brother at all. Then why did Dad kill him?” Luo Rongrong’s voice suddenly sounded out.

Only then did Su Qing and Li Huairou realize that Luo Rongrong had woken up at some point, asking them this question with tears in her eyes.

“Rongrong!” Su Qing hurriedly wiped the tears on her face away and turned to look at Luo Rongrong.

“Why! Why! Why did he do this to me!” Luo Rongrong couldn’t believe what she’d heard. Little Lin was her father’s shield to protect Third Shidi and a tool to separate her and Da Shixiong. In the end, her father had killed him! Why! Why was Dad so cruel!

Su Qing hurriedly hugged Luo Rongrong in her arms. “Rongrong! Rongrong!”

The mother and daughter cried together.

Li Huairou stood aside, sighed, poured them two cups of tea, and waited for the two to calm down and take the tea.

The disciples outside the door heard the voices inside, but they didn’t know what to do. With the two shijie just appearing suddenly, they felt that something was wrong. They went to report to Shifu, but found that Shifu was not there. Second Shixiong had gone down the mountain, and Fifth and Sixth Shixiong did not know where they were.

They ran around, not knowing who to look for, and came back.

Su Qing and Luo Rongrong had cried for an hour. Their tears dried up, and their voices became hoarse. Li Huairou handed over two glasses of water in time, and the mother and daughter took them over.

“Shiniang, Shijie, this is the end of the matter. Let’s think about the future! Shiniang, take the antidote first,” Li Huairou said.

Su Qing nodded, took the antidote from Li Huairou, and ate it.

Luo Rongrong wiped her tears. “Huairou, how is Da Shixiong now?”

“My brother is very good now. Although he can’t do martial arts anymore, he has nothing to do and is teaching the nearby children to read and write, and he has a very fulfilling life. Shijie, you don’t have to worry anymore,” Li Huairou said.

Luo Rongrong nodded. “That’s good!” Just now, she’d instantly understood her heart. She’d liked Little Lin. She could only apologize to Da Shixiong. Because of her, Da Shixiong had suffered.

Li Huairou brought hot water inside and asked the mother and daughter to wash again. It seemed that, this night, no one had the heart to sleep.

After some turning and tossing, it was almost dawn.

The mother and daughter sat together, waiting for the dawn to come.

As a scream sounded out, the entire Qishan Sect was awakened.

Su Qing took a deep breath and stood up. She had not stood on solid ground for a long time after laying in bed.

Luo Rongrong silently held Su Qing’s left hand, while Li Huairou held up her right hand.

The door opened, and the disciples looked terrified.

Su Qing’s face was dark. “What happened?”

The disciples didn’t speak. Luo Rongrong shouted, “How bold! My mother is the wife of the sect head, yet you dare to not listen to her words!”

The disciples looked at one another, and one person said, “No, I don’t know. It seems that it came from Lingyunju.” Lingyunju was Luo Wentai’s study. Since Su Qing became ill, he’d mostly lived alone there. Lingyun, Lingyun, zhuang zhi ling yun—Luo Wentai’s ambition could be seen from the name.

[壮志凌云 means a grand ambition to go straight to the sky to share]

“We’re going to Lingyun!” Su Qing immediately said.

Luo Rongrong and Li Huairou supported her on both sides and headed to the Lingyun residence.

Inside the Lingyun residence, perhaps it was because their dose had been too much, and last night was too crazy, but Luo Wentai and Situ Lei were not yet awake. Even if the second apprentice, who’d come to look for Luo Wentai to make a report, made a shocking cry, it was unable to wake the two from their slumber.

Su Muhe had maintained the scene very well.

So when Su Qing came with someone, she didn’t need to ask. She knew what had happened last night at a glance!

Luo Rongrong bowed her head in shame.

Su Qing covered Li Huairou’s eyes. “Don’t look at it! Don’t dirty your eyes!”

Then she ordered, “You all go out—go back to your room, don’t gather, don’t talk, and no one is allowed to talk nonsense about what happened today. If anyone is found to be talking nonsense, they will be dealt with according to the rules of the sect! Yi Da, instruct them to close all passages up and down the mountain, and strictly prohibit anyone from entering or leaving!”

The second disciple, Yi Da, led the way. By the way, the disciples and brothers who’d been watching were also brought down.

“Huairou, go get me a basin of water!” Su Qing said.

“Yes! Shiniang!”

Li Huairou brought a basin of mountain spring water, which was exceptionally cold in the morning. Su Qing took it, walked slowly to the bed, endured her nausea, and poured it over.

The cold mountain spring water splashed onto his face, and Luo Wentai slowly woke up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he felt sore all over, as if thousands of horses had stepped over him. Especially that unspeakable part—it was even more painful.

Luo Wentai suddenly reacted. He sat up abruptly, pulled on his back, and his face contorted in pain.

Immediately, he saw the six apprentices beside him. Then he saw Su Qing, who was in front of the bed and looking at him with cold disgust, and Li Huairou and Luo Rongrong behind him.

Luo Wentai suddenly understood what was going on. His brain exploded with a buzzing sound. Without a sound, he rose from the bed, grabbed the sword beside him, and slashed at the six disciples beside him.

Seeing that the situation had gone wrong, Li Huairou rushed over, grabbed Su Qing, and ran out. “Shifu is crazy! Shiniang, quickly leave!”

Su Qing took Li Huairou with one hand and Luo Rongrong with the other, and they quickly ran out.

Luo Wentai slashed the sixth apprentice a dozen times like he was crazy. In his dreams, Situ Lei breathed his last, without even knowing how he’d died.

Luo Wentai had now lost his mind. There was only one thought in his mind—kill everyone who knew! All troubles would end when the main trouble ended.

He was completely naked. Holding his sword, he rushed out of Lingyunju.

The second disciple, Yi Da, had just brought people to seal the passages up and down the mountain. But, on the way, he’d met several martial uncles who’d not shown up for a long time, so he brought them up. However, he just happened to see that Shifu had gone crazy. He was using a sword to hunt down Shiniang, Shijie, and Xiao Shimei.

Along the way, he’d already cut a few shidi who’d heard the commotion and rushed over.

If it weren’t for Shiniang, who’d told them to go back to their rooms and not to gather together, perhaps more people would have died!

“Shifu, if you have something to say, please don’t…” Yi Da rushed up, but Luo Wentai’s sword slid across his neck, and Yi Da fell down, clutching his neck.

“Second Shixiong, Third Shixiong! Fifth Shidi!” Su Qing hurriedly shouted. “Luo Wentai is crazy! You must subdue him!”

Li Huairou’s eyes widened. It was too coincidental! Or had this all been arranged by Su Muhe?

Several of Su Qing’s shixiong and shidi had come in a hurry just after receiving Su Qing’s letter. They’d already been dissatisfied with Luo Wentai. Seeing his situation now, they were inwardly very happy. After hearing the words, they rushed up.

After some fighting, the several people finally worked together to subdue Luo Wentai.

Among them, the second shixiong, who harbored the deepest grievances toward Luo Wentai, took the opportunity to crush Luo Wentai’s shoulder blade, destroying his ability to do martial arts, so as to avoid another incident.

“Thank you, shixiong and shidi.” With a look of shock on her face, Su Qing tightly guarded her daughter behind her.

“Alright, we are brothers and sisters, so what is the point of talking about this. It’s fine if you’re not hurt.” Su Qing’s second shixiong looked at her carefully, frowned slightly, and asked, “What are your plans now?”

“Luo Wentai has lost his mind. He naturally will not be able to take the position of head. I think we should let Rongrong be the head. I have made an agreement with Luo Wentai that if we have no son, we would have Rongrong change her surname to Su. In this way, it is justified,” Su Qing said. This, of course, was a lie. From the beginning to the end, Luo Wentai had not intended to pass the position of head to his daughter.

No one had any opinions on this. They were all orphans who’d been adopted by their master, and their feelings for the Su family were extraordinary. No matter how bad their relationship with Luo Wentai was, they would never act against the Qishan Sect. If Luo Rongrong changed her surname to Su and inherited the position of the head of the family, her status would be justified.

“The Qishan Sect has gone through this turmoil, and many things are waiting to be done. I implore my shixiong and shidi to put aside their previous suspicions and stay behind to help Rongrong. Rongrong, come here and kowtow to your shibo and shishu,” Su Qing said.

[Shibo (师伯) refers to the martial uncles older than their parents; their parents’ shixiong]

[Shishu (师叔) refers to the martial uncles younger than their parents; their parents’ shidi]

Luo Rongrong, who would be called Su Rongrong in the future, hadn’t recovered from the upheaval just now, but Li Huairou pushed her. She staggered over and then planned to kneel down.

She was held up by her second martial uncle. “Hey, you’re the head of the Qishan Sect, you can’t kneel.” Then he said with a smile, “I don’t know about the others, but as for me, if Shimei says a word, I will definitely come!”

Su Qing reluctantly smiled. Second Shixiong held her in his heart, she knew it, but she’d chosen Luo Wentai at the beginning. Now, how could she bear to face Second Shixiong?

The Qishan Sect’s turmoil was resolved in this way.

Soon, the Qishan Sect announced to the public that Luo Wentai, the head of their practice, had gone crazy, and Rongrong took over as the head of the Qishan Sect.

Several of Su Qing’s shixiong and shidi also moved back to Qishan with Su Qing’s sincere invitation, assisting Rongrong as elders and vowing to carry the Qishan Sect forward!

Seeing that the dust had settled, Li Huairou proposed to Su Qing for her leave.

“My brother is still waiting for me!”

Su Qing had originally wanted to bring Li Huaishan back to the Qishan Sect. She still wanted to bring her eldest apprentice and her daughter together. But whether it was Li Huaishan or Rongrong, they didn’t have that intention.

Li Huaishan said that he was accustomed to the current life, staying away from the disputes in the jianghu, and that being a teacher who taught and educated people was also quite good. He was relieved to know that his shiniang and shimei were all well.

Rongrong even had no intention of getting married, and she directly said, “Mother, I don’t plan to marry anyone in my life. Men are too scary, and marriage is too scary. When I’m older, if my brothers and sisters are willing, pick someone who is smart and capable among their heirs—I will adopt them and take over the position of head of the sect.”

Su Qing tried to persuade her, but, thinking of herself, she no longer had confidence in marriage, so she was in no position to persuade her daughter. What was more, Rongrong seemed to be a different person now, practicing martial arts with her shibo and shishu, and she’d also begun to learn to handle affairs in the sect.

Forget it. She’d let her go.

Before Li Huairou left, Su Qing gave her the Xingyue Divine Exercises. “Take it and let it go where it should go.”

Li Huairou nodded.

After that, she returned the secret book to Su Muhe.

Su Muhe took it over. Without even looking, he shoved it into his arms.

“What are your plans?” Li Huairou asked.

Su Muhe thought about it. Luo Wentai had been deprived of his martial arts and imprisoned in the Qishan Sect dungeon. Every day, he enjoyed listening to the cries of the shixiong and shidi who he’d forced out of the Qishan faction. Living was better than dying. His purpose had been achieved. Su Muhe suddenly came over and asked, “The central plains aren’t fun. I’m going to go to that divine religion to play. Are you interested?”

Li Huairou took a few steps back. “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.” I want to live a good life and die naturally when I’m seventy or eighty.

Su Muhe laughed, “Then let’s meet again! In fact, Miao Jiang is really fun. You really won’t think about it?” In fact, what Su Muhe wanted to say was, You are a fun person. Will you consider having fun together with me?

But he knew that Li Huairou was unwilling. It was a pity; it was rare to meet such a fun person, and it was a pity that they couldn’t have fun together.

Su Muhe was not a sloppy person, so he promptly got on his horse, waved his hand, and gracefully rode away.

Li Huairou also got on a horse and went to meet Li Huaishan. She’d heard that it was a village with beautiful mountains and rivers, so it should be very suitable for growing old!

When Li Huairou arrived, she could only see the sunset. Under an old locust tree, Li Huaishan was leaning against the tree and surrounded by a group of pint-sized children, who were listening to his excited storytelling.

Seeing her coming from a distance, Li Huaishan didn’t move. He just waved his hand.

The group of children also saw her, and they all grinned like radishes bursting in winter. “Hello, sister!” Then the swarm ran over.

Li Huairou handed the candied haws that she was carrying to the tallest child. “Take them and share them.”

The children laughed and went to share the candied haws.

Li Huaishan came over and said, “You’ve come?”

“Yeah! I’ve come!” Li Huairou said with a smile.

“Let’s go, let’s go home. Hurry up and cook, I’m hungry.”

“No, you want me to cook? When have you seen me cook?”

“If you don’t do it, and I don’t do it, who will?”

“Whoever likes to cook will cook—I don’t cook anyway.”

“Then let’s wait to starve to death!”

“Won’t you find a sister-in-law to cook for me?”

“Then why don’t you find me a brother-in-law to cook for me!”

“Then the two of us should starve to death!”

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This translation is presented by Nocturne Translations.

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