Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Wen Xuan breaks down in pain

Master Ling Xiao continued his instructions: “This time, your Junior Sister will lead the team at the Sect Grand Tournament. It will be her first time appearing before the world as the Young Sect Master of the Flying Cloud Sect. You senior brothers must fully support her and not put too much pressure on her. I will not allow any mistake. Do you understand?”

The four answered together without hesitation: “Disciple obeys.”

They were not enthusiastic, but they knew how important the Sect Grand Tournament was to the honor of the entire Flying Cloud Sect, and they would treat it seriously.

After leaving Master Ling Xiao’s cave, Lu Shi Qing limped away alone toward his own cave. Feng He Yun pointed at his back, ready to explode: “You…”

Wen Xuan stopped him with a quiet hand: “First Senior Brother, let it go.”

Feng He Yun ground his teeth and said, still fuming: “He attacked you for no reason, then left without a word. If I scold him a couple of lines, what of it? Does he even see us as fellow disciples anymore?”

Wen Xuan only shook his head and let out a soft sigh.

Luo Chu finally had the chance to ask the one involved: “So, Second Senior Brother, why did you two end up fighting?”

Wen Xuan answered simply, voice dull: “It isn’t important.”

He did not know the exact reason, but he knew it must be tied to Shen Sang Ruo joining a new sect. Lu Shi Qing did not hate Shen Sang Ruo the way they thought; in fact, he seemed to care even more that she now had new senior brothers. He had been too emotional at the time. Now he was calm and had no wish to argue with Lu Shi Qing.

After that burst of anger, Wen Xuan’s mood sank into deep loneliness, as if he had fallen from the peak to the valley in an instant. Whether because the fight had drained him or for some other reason, he felt hollowed out, an empty shell barely holding him up. Sorrow clouded his eyes without end. Faced with the news of Shen Sang Ruo joining a new sect, he did not know how to steady his heart.

Feng He Yun’s face was tight as he said, practical as ever: “Fine, if you don’t want to say, so be it. Let’s at least treat your wounds first.”

Wen Xuan shook his head as he started walking step by step: “No need. There’s something more important. Come with me.”

Feng He Yun and Luo Chu moved to his sides to support him. After a short distance, they knew where he was heading. Though they had not trod this path in a long time, they had walked it countless times before; they could not fail to recognize it. The three moved in silence, never before having walked this road with such heavy hearts. Their steps felt weighed down, and a short stretch took forever until, at last, they reached the entrance of Shen Sang Ruo’s cave.

The area before her cave was swept clean. It was the season of autumn leaves, yet there was not a single fallen leaf. Feng He Yun and Luo Chu were surprised. Since Shen Sang Ruo left, this place had become almost forbidden to them. They quickly understood it was Wen Xuan who had been keeping it tidy.

Wen Xuan said nothing as he pushed open the door. Back when she left, Shen Sang Ruo had taken all important items with her, leaving only a mess behind. Now, however, the furnishings were exactly as before. Wen Xuan had restored everything based on the traces of how she used to live. Even the items they had once given her, which she had tossed in a corner like junk, had been carefully placed on the jade cabinet closest to her bed and kept in good order, as if a young girl might lie on the bed, glance at those things with bright eyes, and then fall asleep content. It felt as if Shen Sang Ruo had never left.

Seeing this, Feng He Yun and Luo Chu stood dazed.

Luo Chu felt his throat go tight and forced out a few words: “Second Senior Brother, you…”

Wen Xuan looked around the cave with greedy care, a bitter smile tugging at his lips, and walked to the jade cabinet by the bed. His fingertips brushed over the items there: a wine jar, a Seven-colored Butterfly, a Nightglow Stone, a hairpin, pastries… Finally, his hand stilled on the scented medicine pouch he had given Shen Sang Ruo, and he rubbed it again and again. He bowed his head, his features hidden in shadow, unreadable.

A sudden sob broke the quiet of the cave.

Feng He Yun and Luo Chu started in shock. Wen Xuan… was crying? His shoulders trembled again and again, and tears slipped from his eyes to strike the floor. Once the dam broke, the flood could not be stopped. His shaking grew harder; the soft sobs turned into helpless crying. People say men do not cry easily, but anyone could see his complete collapse. After years together, they had almost never seen him shed tears, let alone weep like this.

With a broken, halting voice full of pain, Wen Xuan said: “I should have known… I should have known… She wanted to leave… she chose to leave…” He clutched his head with both hands. “From the moment she took her things, she never meant to stay…”

That story about her just wanting to clean the cave had only been a joke he used to numb himself. Now he could not lie to himself anymore.

Luo Chu’s eyes went red. He patted Wen Xuan’s back to comfort him and said quietly: “Second Senior Brother, maybe Shen Sang Ruo just wants to join another sect to get back at us. Maybe it isn’t as bad as we think. She still has a chance to come back.”

He felt Wen Xuan was being too pessimistic.

Wen Xuan shook his head, his trembling voice firm with certainty: “No, she will not come back.”

He suddenly looked up, his face wet with tears, and stared at the two with bloodshot eyes as he repeated slowly: “First Senior Brother, Fourth Junior Brother, Little Ruo will not come back.” Then his voice rose, grief-stricken: “Little Ruo doesn’t want us anymore!”

It sounded like a final cry before death. Then he sobbed until he could no longer speak, even struggling to breathe. Without Luo Chu supporting him, he would not have had the strength to stand.

Unable to bear Wen Xuan’s lifeless despair, Luo Chu looked to Feng He Yun for help. He wanted him to say a few words to comfort Wen Xuan. But Feng He Yun only pressed his lips together, silently pulled a wine jar from his storage bag, and drank deep. The harsh burn slid down his throat and scorched his chest, yet he still found the wine not strong enough; it could not ease the sorrow in his heart.

At last, drained by tears and weakened by the fight with Lu Shi Qing, Wen Xuan fainted. In silence, Feng He Yun wiped the fallen tear spots from the floor and set everything in the cave back as it had been. Only then did the three leave, carrying the unconscious Wen Xuan back to his cave.

Feng He Yun spoke evenly, the liquor having steadied him: “Let him rest well. Next, we prepare for the Sect Grand Tournament.”

They had no time to be distracted. The tournament was the most important thing. Only after it ended could they think about a solution.

Luo Chu hesitated, then firmed his voice as he looked at Feng He Yun and said: “First Senior Brother, there’s something we’ve been hiding from you. Second Senior Brother told me not to tell you. But I think now we have to.”