Chapter 68: Simplification of the Heart Part 3

These were definitely words this woman would say. Her tone was full of undisguised disgust and total lack of decorum.

Feng Yun’ai blinked. Only then did she realize that her body didn’t hurt—she just couldn’t move.

Was she in so much pain that she had lost all sensation, or had her acupoints been sealed to temporarily stave off the agony?

She tried to secretly regulate her breath to test for blockages in her meridians. Before she could even begin, however, the person beside her pressed incredibly close.

So close that she could actually make out the woman’s features.

Sang Chencao blew a soft breath against her face, an intimacy that mirrored the moment of transferring air underwater. Startled, Feng Yun’ai’s internal effort faltered, and her strength instantly dissipated.

Seeing this, Sang Chencao laughed softly. “Don’t waste your energy, Xiuxiu. Even if you could move, you wouldn’t find a way out for a while. It took me two whole days and getting sucked into a strange vortex to accidentally find an exit.”

She paused for a moment, then added, “As for the entrance, it was blocked long ago by the collapsed Bronze Gate. I jumped back into the vortex to come back for you, but the vortex had vanished.”

Feng Yun’ai hadn’t been trying to regulate her breath to leave. Unfortunately, she couldn’t speak, so she could only glare.

“At least your eyes are still beautiful even if your face is ruined. Glare at me more; I love it when you do that.” Sang Chencao moved a bit further away, and the sound of rustling followed as she busied herself with something.

Feng Yun’ai stopped glaring. Her eyes followed the movement, and a sudden flash of light caused her pupils to contract.

It wasn’t an explosion, thank goodness; the woman had simply lit a fire.

Sang Chencao turned around slowly and gave Feng Yun’ai a light pat on the shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. The fire above died out long ago. These pots and pans were left behind by the people who originally dug the waterway. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to brew medicine for you these past few days.”

Medicine?

Feng Yun’ai was slightly stunned. She couldn’t understand how Sang Chencao seemed to have every kind of medicine on her person.

Sang Chencao said casually, “Speaking of which, the Guiyuan Sect is quite the up-and-coming demonic sect. They tricked many of the former followers of the Sun Chasing Cult. Lin Yaoyao had been a believer of the Sun Chasing Cult for a long time before joining the Guiyuan Sect. Over the years, she used the Yao Yao Inn to recruit many followers for them.”

After a short pause, she continued, “During the incident at the inn, she used a hanging to fake her death and escape. She made her way to Cloud City and was ordered to help Zhou Gui establish the Dieshan Alliance.”

The fire crackled. Sang Chencao suddenly let out a sharp hiss, as if she had been hit by a sudden pain.

Feng Yun’ai squinted. The flickering firelight made it even harder to see.

Sang Chencao went silent for a moment before sneering. “The sect leaders of Guanfeng Gate and the Hengshan Sect have both confessed. They were initially deceived by Zhou Gui, and later they fell under Lin Yaoyao’s Nightmare Art, becoming her puppets. Once Lin Yaoyao left, the Nightmare Art was naturally dispelled.”

“The Chuanyun Sect Leader also changed his mind and joined the Dieshan Alliance because of the Nightmare Art. No wonder I felt those three were acting strangely at the Hero Recruitment Meet.”

Feng Yun’ai understood now.

Sang Chencao smiled. “Now the major sects are joining forces to head west, intending to wipe out the Guiyuan Sect. It’s quite a spectacle.”

That’s for the best, Feng Yun’ai thought.

“I truly didn’t expect Lin Yaoyao to have such exceptional martial arts. At the inn, both you and I were fooled by her.” Sang Chencao snorted with disdain. “Fortunately, the Guiyuan Sect can only use these underhanded tricks. If every hero at the Hero Recruitment Meet had been blown to bits that day, the Guiyuan Sect’s plot would have succeeded, and there would be no talk of an encirclement.”

Feng Yun’ai blinked again.

“Are you happy, Xiuxiu? Feng Rong doesn’t have to die with a tarnished name. The world no longer despises her for her past identity, and Wen Lanxin won’t be spat upon by everyone.” There was a hint of a smile in Sang Chencao’s voice.

The corners of Feng Yun’ai’s mouth twitched, but her face remained numb.

Sang Chencao, her back still turned, continued, “Do you know what kind of blood-letter Wen Lanxin left for me?”

Feng Yun’ai couldn’t possibly guess. She had only met Wen Lanxin once.

“She said she was going to seek death. Truly hilarious.” Sang Chencao paused for a long time before saying indifferently, “I suspect it’s martyrdom—she died for love.”