Bureau 26

The days that followed remained tranquil. The Gentlemen's Hall grew stronger by the day, and Jun Xiao became increasingly busy, adopting a more severe demeanor before the disciples of the sect. The only hint of a smile was reserved for Qing Yi.

“Don’t you find it a bit strange?” Ming Yue asked with a furrowed brow.

“Which aspect are you referring to, Mistress?” came the reply.

Ming Yue responded, “Everything feels strange… I still don’t understand how Jun Xiao fell in love with Qing Yi. Their connection before wasn’t all that deep.”

“Perhaps it’s simply that kind of person—when you meet her, you find every glance, every smile enchanting, every jest and every anger beautiful.”

Ming Yue rolled her eyes and let out a low, mocking laugh. She continued, “What about the Jun family’s attitude? Judging by Jun Yi’s earlier stance, he should have opposed it with all his might. The Jun family cares so much about the Gentlemen’s Hall—aren’t they worried that keeping Qing Yi by Jun Xiao’s side will tarnish their reputation? If Qing Yi’s past deeds are exposed, the Hall’s honor will inevitably suffer. And what about Gu Qianrun? When did he meet Qing Yi? Why did he want Jun Yi to kill you?”

“Jun Xiao and Qing Yi’s matters are known to Jun Yi, but that doesn’t mean the elders of the Jun family know as well.” Qin Shi brushed aside the loose strands of hair before her face, her brow suddenly knit. “As for Mr. Gu, I fear this story will not provide an answer… But I believe the mysteries surrounding the Jun family will be revealed when Qing Yi passes away.”

As Qin Shi finished speaking, the scene before them abruptly shifted. The Gentlemen’s Hall bustled with activity, people coming and going as if at a grand martial gathering. After a while, Jun Xiao appeared, stepping before the assembled crowd. At a slight gesture of his hand, silence fell. Someone handed him a cup of wine, which he accepted. He bowed slightly and said, “Today, you esteemed seniors have traveled from afar to join our gathering. It is an honor for the Gentlemen’s Hall. I promise to do my utmost to make this event a success, worthy of your expectations.”

At that moment, Ming Yue noticed a glow beside her. Turning, she saw a soul lantern in Qin Shi’s hand.

Startled, Ming Yue whispered, “You stay here and watch over Jun Xiao. I will go find Qing Yi.”

When Ming Yue found Qing Yi, she was in the courtyard with Jun Yi and two elderly men from the Jun family. Qing Yi sat on a stone bench, her eyes cast down, her expression calm as if she had anticipated this situation.

“Miss Gu, you have been a guest at our Jun family for a long time. Perhaps it is time for you to return home,” said one of the elders.

Qing Yi finally looked up and smiled. “What if I don’t feel it’s enough yet?”

The two elders’ faces darkened with anger, but Jun Yi suddenly snapped open his folding fan and laughed, “Elders, there’s no need to lose your temper. With such a woman, is it worth reasoning with her?” With that, Jun Yi slashed the fan towards Qing Yi. She dodged to the side, but Jun Yi unexpectedly flipped his wrist and lightly waved the fan in front of her face.

A rich fragrance spread. In a short time, Qing Yi slumped onto the stone table. Jun Yi grinned, “Southern Border’s sedative is indeed effective.”

“What? Jun Yi, when did you get involved with the Southern Border?”

“No need to worry, Elder. On my way back some days ago, I encountered a scoundrel who captures women to refine poison insects. I thought the Gentlemen’s Hall still harbored a woman—why not hand her over? It’s a fitting end.” Jun Yi’s lips curled into a smile, but his voice was icy.

“Is this wise? We only wished for her to leave Jun Xiao willingly, never to harm her life.”

Jun Yi raised his fan, hiding half his face, and said with a smile, “Elders, do you know this woman is the one who previously murdered the monarch and betrayed the nation? My brother, unaware of her background, believed she was merely coerced by the Emperor to spy and steal the King of Shu’s seal. He was deceived by her. Such a woman is inherently treacherous—there is no need for pity.”

The two elders, their hair as white as snow, erupted in anger. One flung his sleeve and declared, “If that is so, we shall not interfere further. The matter is yours.”

“Yes, Jun Yi will handle it properly.” With that, Jun Yi carried Qing Yi towards the back mountain and finally handed her over to a pale-faced man with a green snake coiled around his neck.

In that instant, the man’s expression changed, then he lowered his eyes and gathered Qing Yi into his arms. Ming Yue’s eyes widened in disbelief. This man… this man was unmistakably one of the three who stood behind the masked woman when she and Qin Shi were captured. Although Ming Yue’s most vivid memory was of the woman, the terror of being locked in a pit of snakes had etched all three into her mind.

“Don’t let me see you again, or don’t blame my sword for showing no mercy.”

After Jun Yi left, Ming Yue watched as the man carefully picked up Qing Yi and hastened down the mountain. Their figures soon vanished, but Ming Yue stood frozen, for she heard the man softly sigh before leaving, “Poison Maiden, I have finally found you…”

At that moment, the masked woman flashed through Ming Yue’s mind, along with the words Qing Yi had spoken before. “Abducted just after leaving the capital, barely survived…” Survived… So that was why! So it was! No wonder Gu Qianrun said it took him years to give Qing Yi the will to live! Ha, Qing Yi isn’t dead, isn’t dead! Ming Yue wanted to laugh aloud, not knowing why, but she longed to share this news with Qin Shi and Jun Xiao.

Joyfully, Ming Yue turned to run back, but met Jun Xiao and the others halfway. At the edge of a secluded bamboo grove, Jun Xiao knelt weakly on the ground, his head bowed. Ming Yue looked around, but Jun Yi was nowhere to be seen.

“You might as well consider her dead.”

With those words, the two elders walked past Jun Xiao and left.

“What happened?” Ming Yue asked.

“They said Qing Yi has been handed over to the Poison Insect Sect. Even if he finds her, she will not recognize him.”

Ming Yue stared at Jun Xiao in astonishment. “Does that mean he knows Qing Yi isn’t dead? Is he just giving up? Was everything he did before all for nothing?”

“Perhaps he’s simply lost, unsure how to hold on,” Qin Shi turned her gaze to the verdant bamboo leaves swaying in the wind. “Or perhaps all his courage was spent that night, and now he cannot abandon the Gentlemen’s Hall to search for her. Maybe he’s just tired, unsure if he has the strength to find her again… But these are his choices. We have no right to interfere.”

Qin Shi’s words calmed Ming Yue, and the excitement at realizing Qing Yi was alive faded away.

Yes, none of this is truly their concern. They were merely passing through, witnessing, and then moving on.

After that day, Jun Xiao grew despondent, hiding in his room day after day, drinking, and never again venturing out to search for Qing Yi. The grand assembly proceeded only because he entrusted Jun Yi with its management. Months passed, and Jun Xiao was but a shadow of his former self, utterly worn out, until one day, a dozen elders of the Jun family knelt outside his room. They said nothing, but Jun Xiao wept inside, rubbing his eyes and sobbing like a child.

At dusk, Jun Xiao finally composed himself and stepped outside. “From now on, I will never again betray the ancestral teachings of the Jun family.” Without waiting for the elders to rise or speak, he walked away, leaving the Gentlemen’s Hall and wandering through the bustling streets.

Jun Xiao wandered aimlessly, passing by a masked woman in white.

In that instant, Ming Yue felt something flash through her mind. By the time she understood, white mist had enveloped her vision.

The three awoke together, yet none spoke. After a long silence, Jun Xiao was the first to break it: “Miss, are you prepared?”

“Does the Hall Master have a jade flute?”

Jun Xiao rubbed his brow and nodded, not asking why.

“I ask to borrow it once we leave. Ming Yue will offer the Melody of Longing in return.”

Jun Xiao saw no reason for doubt and immediately led them out through another passage, which opened onto a rock garden facing the waterside pavilion and peach grove. It was not far from Jun Xiao’s study, so he fetched the long flute himself.

Ming Yue stood in the clearing amid the peach trees, raising the flute to her lips. She did not fully understand what the song conveyed, but its plaintive and sorrowful notes brought tears to Jun Xiao’s eyes. Qin Shi stood beside him, holding the lantern in her hand. Tears slid down Jun Xiao’s face, finally dropping onto the transparent wick, where brown branches twined and blossomed into a resplendent flower.

When the melody ended, Ming Yue returned the jade flute to Jun Xiao, seeing the worry fade from his brow as he said, “Thank you.”

“It was my duty. I ask that the Hall Master keep his promise and send us back to Yinzhou tonight.”

“Of course.”

With Jun Xiao’s assurance, Ming Yue took Qin Shi and left, unwilling to linger a moment longer. On their way back to their temporary quarters, Ming Yue accepted the lantern flower from Qin Shi and ate it, immediately squinting and grimacing at its bitterness. That evening, after Ming Yue and Qin Shi finished their meal, Jun Xiao kept his word and arranged for them to leave Shu Prefecture.

Atop the city wall, Jun Yi squinted at the distant carriage and said to the youth beside him, “How is the Poison Maiden?”

“Second Master, A Yuan has already assigned someone to watch her.”

“Excellent.” Jun Yi snapped open his fan and descended from the wall.

When only the wind remained, a man suddenly leaped onto the wall and knelt beside the youth. “Reporting, Master: the Poison Maiden’s decoy is ready. The real one is already on her way back to the Southern Border.”

The youth waved him off, and the man retreated the way he had come. The youth gazed toward the distant green peaks, his eyes clear, though the innocence Ming Yue once saw in them was gone. He grinned, and in his gaze ice seemed to crack and shatter, leaving only a faint, cold light.