Chapter 74: Cutting the Threads Part 2

Sang Chencao remained smiling, as if she had no connection to Wen Lanxin and didn’t care about the news of her death. She gave a light, mocking huff. “Rest easy. Wen Lanxin didn’t die at the hands of the Guiyuan Sect. They don’t have the capability to kill her.”

“Then why did she die? Was it… an illness?” someone asked.

“A sickness of the heart. Does that count?” Sang Chencao said cryptically. “But Wen Lanxin’s Tome of Poisons and her sword, Solitary Gall, still remain. The Solitary Gall Mantra she created has never truly been seen by the world. I wonder how many forms the Guiyuan Sect Master can withstand.”

Feng Yun’ai searched her memory. According to the Jianghu Records, Wen Lanxin had no secret techniques other than her peerless poison skills and the sword Solitary Gall. She wasn’t like Feng Rong, who had created the Lonely Heart Sword Technique after leaving the Moonlight Sect.

But was that really the truth?

Based on Sang Chencao’s words, clearly not.

Wen Lanxin had gone to great lengths to cultivate a Medicinal Human just to ensure Feng Rong’s longevity. Could the strange internal arts she created also have been… for Feng Rong?

Feng Rong’s internal cultivation was cold in nature. The cultivation Wen Lanxin had passed to Sang Chencao, however, reached a level of heat that was almost unbearable.

Given Wen Lanxin’s temperament, this wasn’t done to oppose Feng Rong. It felt more like an attempt to dispel Feng Rong’s coldness. Everything she had done was for Feng Rong’s sake.

When hearts and galls are one, if the lonely heart is too stubborn, the solitary gall will easily shatter.

In truth, Wen Lanxin had died the moment Feng Rong passed. She was nothing more than a hollow shell wandering the earth.

Feng Yun’ai finally believed it. Wen Lanxin… was likely truly gone.

The others didn’t know the origins of Wen Lanxin’s self-created cultivation, but they understood that if Sang Chencao was making such bold claims, she must be capable of fighting the Guiyuan Sect.

“What do you plan to do?” Yu Lao asked.

“Since the Sorrowful Wind Fan relies on the snow and wind, we’ll drive the wind and melt the snow, leaving it with nothing to grasp,” Sang Chencao said slowly, sounding as if she had everything under control.

Feng Yun’ai lifted her arm, looking at the Lonely Heart Sword. “The Lonely Heart Sword Technique is also willing to join this fight,” she said softly.

These words were like a sudden starlight piercing through the gloom, dispelling the shadows in everyone’s hearts.

“Good!” the crowd shouted in unison.

“It is fortunate we have you two,” Yu Lao said, her brow relaxing, though her expression remained somber. “But we are at a disadvantage. If we keep wasting time like this, our rations will run out before we even see the Guiyuan Sect Master’s face. We must settle this quickly.”

“How can we settle it quickly?” someone argued. “We should retreat to the nearest town, recuperate, and plan more carefully.”

Feng Yun’ai looked toward the speaker. She couldn’t see the man’s face clearly, but based on the blurry silhouette of the flail-blade at his waist, she recognized him as the Sect Master of the Yelan Gate.

This sect held some status in the Jianghu Records, but they were known for having too many reckless members, which kept them from rising as high as other sects.

Feng Yun’ai lifted her veiled hat, squinting slightly to see better, but it was in vain.

The others felt the Yelan Gate Master had a point. After these past few days, nearly everyone was showing signs of exhaustion. Even if they could scale Snow-Top Peak, they might not have the strength left to face the Guiyuan Sect.

Several sect leaders hesitated, looking toward Feng Yun’ai and Sang Chencao.

Yu Lao had her inner qi to sustain her, and while her complexion was still healthy, she was reaching her limit. After a moment of thought, she said, “Perhaps we should do as the Yelan Gate Master suggests. We should head down the mountain to rest first. You two have traveled a great distance; you must be exhausted as well.”

Feng Yun’ai and Sang Chencao had rushed here from afar, resting for barely half an hour along the way. Any ordinary person would be unable to even keep their eyes open.

The crowd looked at one another and began to murmur in agreement.

Seeing that Sang Chencao didn’t object, Feng Yun’ai turned to leave. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind like a bolt of lightning. It came and went in an instant, leaving behind only a strange, lingering doubt.

She felt something was wrong, but for a moment, she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

As the group began their descent, the Yelan Gate Master walked among them, his steps somewhat staggering.

Sang Chencao suddenly stopped, her voice dripping with hidden meaning. “I thought the Yelan Gate Master had injured his leg during the incident at the Sword Trial Stage. But now that I think back, I don’t recall seeing the Sect Master at the Hero Recruitment Meet at all. It seems your leg ailment must have flared up, preventing you from showing your face.”