My Gentle and Pure Sect Leader Husband - Chapter 86

December 8th, Dusk

Gongsun Lan fled in panic through the forest on the outskirts of the capital, constantly turning her head to look behind her.

Her originally carefully arranged long hair had become disheveled, with strands flying up and falling down in the wind. Her face, which she had always cared about most, bore several thin, long bloody scratches from the winter’s cold, hard dead branches. Her face and eyes were filled with terror and fear.

A bloody taste kept surging up in her throat, but she dared not stop.

Because what was pursuing and trying to kill her from behind was not human—it was a sinister, vicious, and malicious ghost that had crawled out from the eighteen levels of hell.

If she fell into that person’s hands, it would definitely be worse than death!

She didn’t want to die, and even more so, she didn’t want to fall into that person’s hands!

She knew that person’s weakness. It was nighttime now, and as long as she ran into the forest… as long as she ran far enough and deep enough… that person definitely wouldn’t be able to catch up!

“Running so fast—if others saw this, they’d think I had done something to you.”

A gentle voice sounded by her ear, accompanied by the cold wind brushing past. Gongsun Lan’s figure stiffened in place, and her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably.

“Impossible… this is in the forest… how could you possibly catch up… you clearly, clearly don’t know directions…”

“Oh? You actually know my weakness.”

Gong Jiu, who was sitting on a tree branch looking down at Gongsun Lan from above, raised an eyebrow. In the blink of an eye, he had closed in to within a finger’s distance of Gongsun Lan, almost pressing his face against her ear, murmuring in a low voice.

“Let me hear… who informed on me?”

Gongsun Lan wanted to retreat, but she was locked in place by Gong Jiu’s bone-chilling killing intent. Her teeth chattered as she stammered, “It was… it was the little old man who said… the Invisible People all… all know…”

“You can’t kill me! I’ve already become an Invisible Person, the little old man needs me to—”

Before Gongsun Lan could finish speaking, Gong Jiu raised his hand and cleanly dislocated her jaw, smiling as he said, “What did you say? I didn’t hear clearly.”

When Gong Jiu had gone to sea years ago and was rescued, he had remained on that island afterward.

The island’s master was a good-natured little old man named Wu Ming, though few people knew his name, and even fewer would address him by his given name directly.

The little old man had taught Gong Jiu peerless martial arts on this island. Not only Gong Jiu—anyone with good bone structure, outstanding family background, or special status and talent could earn the little old man’s favor.

Day after day, the little old man had cultivated a group of first-class masters that even the most disciple-rich sects and factions in the martial world would find jaw-dropping. These people were organized by the little old man into an organization called the “Invisible People.”

These Invisible People committed evil deeds in the Central Plains. As long as someone could pay the price, they would do anything, and through this, the little old man had accumulated an astonishing amount of wealth.

But the little old man’s accumulation of this wealth was not for killing people—it was for rebellion.

His lifelong obsessions were only two: first, to kill Yu Luocha and his relatives; second, to overthrow the Central Plains court, steal the heavens and change the sun, and establish himself as emperor.

The little old man had always been looking for someone who could get close enough to assassinate the emperor. Gong Jiu had always been the chess piece in his hand closest to this goal, but Gong Jiu had always shown himself to be extremely uncontrollable. The little old man had used many methods—even stuffing Gong Jiu into a coffin, nailing it shut, and burying him underground for more than ten days—but still couldn’t make Gong Jiu become more obedient.

Instead, it had made Gong Jiu’s temperament even more unpredictable.

So the little old man could only seek other Invisible People capable of assassinating the emperor. Gongsun Lan was one of the alternatives.

Because the little emperor liked everything related to the martial world—this wasn’t a secret—but the imperial palace was heavily guarded, and people from the martial world couldn’t easily approach. However, Gongsun Lan, as a descendant of Lady Gongsun, could use the pretext of sword dancing to have an audience with His Majesty.

Even if the distance was sufficient and there were imperial guards protecting him, as long as Gongsun Lan used poison and sword together, she might not be unable to succeed.

So Gongsun Lan, who had originally been sentenced by the Jinyiwei, was rescued by the Invisible People.

But she had only been out for a short time when she encountered Gong Jiu’s pursuit and assassination.

Gongsun Lan’s beautiful eyes reflected Gong Jiu’s face. She gripped Gong Jiu’s sleeve tightly, as if silently questioning why Gong Jiu wanted to kill her.

His grip tightened, and Gong Jiu laughed softly, his voice gentle as water. “I can rebel and commit treason, but others cannot. Do you understand?”

Gongsun Lan was lifted up entirely. After struggling for just a moment, her limbs went limp and drooped down, no longer showing any sign of life.

Gong Jiu casually tossed Gongsun Lan’s corpse aside and drew a handkerchief from his sleeve to carefully wipe his fingers.

“It seems she didn’t understand why she died.” A clear voice came from above.

Gong Jiu didn’t even lift his head, continuing to wipe his fingers, apparently having long since detected the presence of a third person nearby.

Yan Chuan leaped down lightly from the tree branch, landing beside Gongsun Lan’s corpse. “Was she the only prisoner stolen from the Jinyiwei?”

“You’re asking me?” Gong Jiu looked up with amusement.

Yan Chuan said, “You are ‘Young Master Jiu.’ For things I could get answers to just by asking you, why would I waste time investigating?”

Gong Jiu truly had never encountered anyone more unreasonable than himself. However, the fact was that this child, who was only seven or eight years old, was indeed someone he couldn’t provoke or strike. Not only that, but he also had to maintain appropriate good relations.

This family was truly…

Gong Jiu thought to himself that he must be at odds with this family, though their eight characters should be compatible—otherwise, how could the little demon be in their home?

The little demon’s younger brother—he could take care of him a bit.

Thinking of this, Gong Jiu relaxed his hand, letting the silk handkerchief drop to the ground where it was stained with the forest soil, and readily answered, “No.”

In the little old man Wu Ming’s Invisible People organization, there were quite a few criminals with nowhere else to turn. Since he had the ability to steal death row prisoners from the Jinyiwei, he naturally wouldn’t use it only once.

“Ah… then we’re in trouble. Mother is going to be angry.” Yan Chuan looked troubled as he pinched his small chin. “Should I go out to hide, or should I go out to play?”

Gong Jiu: “…?”

He looked at the little bean in front of him, and somehow saw Yu Luocha’s shadow in this short-statured child.

Wu Ming regarded Yu Luocha as his mortal enemy, but the Invisible People’s methods were learned from Yu Luocha’s Luocha Sect. If the little old man knew that Yu Luocha had a son…

Gong Jiu’s expression became subtle.

It seemed eager to try, expectant, yet also playful.

“Uncle Jiu also thinks this matter is very interesting, right!” Seeing Gong Jiu’s expression, Yan Chuan immediately showed a look of hitting it off perfectly and said excitedly, “Want to cooperate and play together!”

Gong Jiu’s face also showed an interested smile. “Play what, how do we play?”

“Uncle Jiu wants to protect Little Imperial Uncle, right? I want to root out the traitors in the Jinyiwei without making Mother angry, so let’s unite against external enemies and play with the little old man’s Invisible People. How about it?” Yan Chuan’s eyes lit up instantly. “The little old man’s martial arts must be very high and very fun to play with. This kind of bad person who won’t die immediately is the rarest!”

Gong Jiu paused for a long while, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, laughing until he had to support himself against the tree trunk, unable to control himself. After a good while, he recovered. That smile was like a snake revealing its crimson forked tongue, his voice cold and slippery. “Little fellow, do your parents know you’re such a little madman?”

“They know, but I’m well-behaved, so everyone likes me.” Yan Chuan smiled and tilted his head slightly. “Uncle Jiu should also be a bit more well-behaved, then we can play together. Otherwise, Little Imperial Uncle will be very sad.”

Gong Jiu’s fingers gripping the tree trunk exerted force and actually penetrated directly into the trunk, embedding deeply.

Yan Chuan took out an invitation from his chest and stepped forward to hand it to Gong Jiu. “This was written personally by Little Imperial Uncle, inviting Uncle Jiu to come home and celebrate the Laba Festival together. If you don’t go, he’ll squat at the courtyard gate and wait.”

“Little Imperial Uncle said he’s been foolish since childhood and always keeps his word. You know this.”

The night wind was bleak, and the soft handkerchief stained with soil was swept up by the wind and carried away into some unknown darkness.

Gong Jiu stared at the invitation for a long time, then withdrew his fingers from the tree trunk that now had five holes gouged in it and accepted the invitation.

“…Anhe Workshop?”

Gong Jiu read the address on the invitation.

“My home.” Yan Chuan turned around. “Shall we go together?”

Gong Jiu clutched the invitation in his hand, put it away in his sleeve, and walked to Yan Chuan’s side.

“Uncle Jiu, what’s that little old man’s background?”

“Your father has enemies throughout the martial world. He’s the one who hates your father the most.”

“Oh… what about the Invisible People?”

“Used for making money and assassinating the emperor.”

“Mm, I understand. So the little old man is now looking for someone who can get close to Little Imperial Uncle to carry out the assassination, right!”

“…You’re quite good at drawing inferences.”

“Of course, I’m very smart.” Yan Chuan’s little tail note rose proudly.

The deep bell sound rang from within the city. Yan Chuan shrank his neck and tugged at Gong Jiu’s sleeve, quickening his pace. “Uncle Jiu, hurry up! We’re a bit delayed this time. Father said to have you come early to cook Laba porridge together.”

The speechlessness from ten years ago surfaced in his heart again. Gong Jiu said helplessly, “I thought I was a guest.”

“Are you? Can Uncle Jiu cook Laba porridge? Father cooks it very deliciously every year. Sister can eat three bowls…”

“…I can. Also, don’t call me uncle, call me Brother Jiu.”

“I won’t! If the generations get mixed up, Little Imperial Uncle will deduct my snacks. If Uncle Jiu really likes my sister, then pursue her bravely. As long as you don’t get beaten to death by my parents and still have a breath left, even an old cow can eat tender grass. Go for it~”

“Oh, that’s not right. Grandfather also really likes sister, Little Imperial Uncle also really likes her, ah, and also…”

“Mm, so speaking of which, Uncle Jiu, can you take a beating?”

The weak moonlight passed through the forest branches and fell down, illuminating the path home for one big and one small figure.

At the entrance of the Yan residence, lanterns hung high, and below them squatted a brocade-clad youth wrapped up in a large cloak, holding a tree branch and drawing something on the ground.

“Little Uncle!” Yan Chuan saw the little emperor squatting there from far away and ran over, pulling Gong Jiu’s sleeve.

Gong Jiu was dragged along the whole way. Looking down at his sleeve, which had never been so wrinkled before, an absurd sense of ridiculousness rose in his heart.

How on earth had he become so bewitched as to agree to come to the Yan family to celebrate some Laba Festival??

“Xiao Ling is amazing!” The little emperor first lifted Yan Chuan and spun him around in a circle, then directly pounced on Gong Jiu and bear-hugged the white-clothed man, excitedly saying, “Brother Jiu!”

Ten years had passed, and the little dumpling of those days had grown into the young man of today.

Gong Jiu’s hands stiffened for a moment, but he ultimately hugged him back, then said awkwardly and with disgust. “What kind of behavior is this? Get down!”

“Mm mm mm, let’s go in quickly. We’re the only ones missing!” The little emperor pulled Gong Jiu toward the courtyard.

Hearing this, Gong Jiu suddenly stopped in his tracks and asked warily, “What do you mean by… only missing? Who else is inside?”

“Many people.” Yan Chuan patted the snow off the stone lion and rubbed his frozen red fingers while breathing on them. “Father and Mother, Brother Ah Lou, Brother Lu, Brother Ah Xue are all inside, and Uncle Ye… Hmm? Are the generations mixed up?”

Logically, except for him being the younger generation, everyone else was of the same generation, but how had he called out two different generations?

Yan Chuan was stunned for a moment and looked toward his little uncle.

The culprit of the generational confusion looked back innocently and even blinked.

Gong Jiu, who had figured it out, rolled his eyes, immediately straightened his clothes, and took the little emperor and Yan Chuan by the hand to walk into the courtyard.

Let him see how many “grand-nephews” were sitting inside?

…..

In the spacious front hall of the Yan residence, people of different positions and identities sat around one table.

Having driven away Gong Jiu who wanted to get closer, Xiao Jing was pulled to sit beside Yu Luocha with a stern face, while being seriously instructed to be wary of men with ill intentions.

Beside Hua Manlou sat Ximen Chuixue. The two were talking quietly, with Hua Manlou’s lips curved in a smile and warmth flowing in Ximen Chuixue’s eyes.

Yan Chuan was pulling Lu Xiaofeng and whispering something, occasionally dragging Gong Jiu over to say a few words. Lu Xiaofeng kept shaking his head, almost using his entire body to express his refusal to the suggestion of going undercover among the Invisible People.

The little emperor, Yan Hongyin, and Ye Gucheng held fruit wine in their hands, quietly discussing the follow-up matters concerning Baiyun City.

The dishes on the table steamed with heat, and the Laba porridge bubbled with dried fruits and beans of various origins.

May the years come to an end, and may we walk toward the dawn.

~The End~