Volume 3, Chapter 440 – Three Years From Now, Remember to Come Save Me

Something was wrong!

Chi Xiyan looked at the smiling man before her, and a sense of danger rose unbidden in her heart.

Her gaze swept left and right.

Her heart sank.

They were surrounded.

Besides Lu Guan, there were more than a dozen other Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples.

They stood in a sword formation, sealing off every path around the two women.

“What are you trying to do?” Chi Xiyan demanded. “Song Shixuan has already made the three year pact with us, does the Lingxiao Sword Sect intend to break it?”

Lu Guan paid no attention to Chi Xiyan, his gaze going straight to Chi Muxue beside her.

“This Lu comes under the Sect Master’s order, to invite Miss Chi Muxue to be a guest at Lingxiao Mountain.”

Chi Xiyan froze for a moment, then anger surged up within her.

“The Lingxiao Sword Sect, are you planning to simply seize her in the middle of the street!”

Lu Guan shook his head, a smile on his face. “Quite the opposite, this is to protect Miss Chi Muxue.”

Protect?

What a fine sounding excuse!

No one understood the Lingxiao Sword Sect’s methods better than Chi Xiyan.

Domineering and unreasonable, twisting black into white, blurring right and wrong.

Called protection, but truly a house arrest!

Chi Xiyan said angrily, “The three year pact was only just made, and the Lingxiao Sword Sect already shows this kind of face, are you not afraid of being mocked by all under heaven?”

“Not at all. In everything it does, the Lingxiao Sword Sect has always acted openly and upright.” Lu Guan said. “Inviting Miss Chi Muxue to Lingxiao Sword Sect as a guest is also part of the three year pact.”

“Heh.” Chi Xiyan let out a cold laugh.

Lu Guan showed no anger, and continued to explain. “After all, as the leading force of the righteous path, the Lingxiao Sword Sect has always drawn the envy of many petty schemers.”

“The Lingxiao Sword Sect will naturally uphold the three year pact with the Chi family, but there are many small minded people who would love nothing more than to see the Lingxiao Sword Sect embarrassed.”

As he spoke, Lu Guan looked toward Chi Muxue. “They cannot deal with the Lingxiao Sword Sect directly, but they could go after Miss Chi Muxue instead, and then frame the Lingxiao Sword Sect for it.”

“So the Sect Master inviting Miss Chi to be a guest at Lingxiao Mountain is, naturally, to protect Miss Chi.”

He spoke as though it were all perfectly reasonable, but Chi Xiyan did not believe a word of his nonsense.

She stared fixedly at Lu Guan, her mind racing to think of a way to break through.

The way forward was sealed off, no breaking through there. But behind her stood the Chi family’s grand mansion, and with the protection of the Chi family’s great formation, even if Lu Guan was an elder of the Lingxiao Sword Sect, a Sixth Realm sword cultivator, he could not possibly break through it right away.

Besides, this was Beihe Commandery, and even the Lingxiao Sword Sect surely would not be so arrogant as to attack the Chi family’s residence in the middle of the street.

Chi Xiyan stepped back a few paces and grabbed Chi Muxue’s hand.

She transmitted through voice, “Muxue, when I count to three, we run back to the Chi family’s grand mansion together.”

“One, two…”

Before the word three left her mouth, Chi Xiyan heard Chi Muxue let out a sigh.

“No need.”

The girl stepped forward and pressed a hand on Chi Xiyan’s shoulder.

Chi Xiyan turned her head, looking at her, not understanding.

“Xiyan, the Lingxiao Sword Sect’s power reaches too far, even if we tried to run, it would be useless.” The girl gave Chi Xiyan a bitter smile. “In truth, I expected this all along. In the eyes of the Lingxiao Sword Sect, the three year pact was never more than an excuse for us to buy time.”

“They can tolerate me delaying for three years, but they will not tolerate me running off and staying out of reach.”

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Chi Xiyan’s brow furrowed, and she quickly reached out and grabbed the girl’s hand. “What are you planning to do?”

Chi Muxue raised her hand and covered the back of Chi Xiyan’s hand, then looked toward Lu Guan.

“Elder Lu, I will go with you to the Lingxiao Sword Sect. But before that, I would like a few more words with my sister.”

Lu Guan nodded. “That is fine.”

Chi Xiyan said urgently, “Chi Muxue, how can you trust the Lingxiao Sword Sect!”

Chi Muxue let out a soft sigh. “It is not that I trust the Lingxiao Sword Sect. It is that I trust you.”

“With my cultivation, even the Lingxiao Sword Sect would not dare force me to submit through sheer pressure. If they push me too far, and I sever my own meridians, they would gain nothing from it at all.”

“These three years are a period of grace they have given me.”

The girl leaned in close to Chi Xiyan, lowering her voice. “Listen to me.”

“The people of the Lingxiao Sword Sect do not believe you have any real chance of defeating Song Shixuan. That is the only reason they let Song Shixuan agree to this three year pact.”

“But I know that all of them are underestimating you. Your aptitude and talent are no worse than Song Shixuan’s.”

“And that is our only chance.”

Chi Xiyan’s pupils shrank suddenly.

The girl gripped her hand tightly.

She pressed her red lips together, and her pleading words carried a faint tremor.

“Three years from now, come to Lingxiao Mountain, win the wager, and save me!”

Chi Xiyan could see the faint redness gathering at the corners of the girl’s eyes.

She felt as though her chest had been struck hard.

Not far away, Lu Guan urged impatiently. “Are you not finished yet? Miss Chi?”

Chi Muxue paid him no mind. She raised her hand in a gesture, and a small jade sword appeared in her palm.

She pressed the sword firmly into Chi Xiyan’s hand.

“This is my natal sword. When I am not by your side, let it keep you company in my place.”

“And then… one last thing.” Chi Muxue leaned close to Chi Xiyan’s ear, lowering her voice. “These past years, I have been investigating the fire at the Chi family. I have not found anything useful yet.”

“But…”

“Do not trust Chi Jingwen.”

“Do not accept any help he offers you.”

With that, Chi Muxue turned and walked away without another word.

“Let us go, Elder Lu. I have said what I needed to say.”

Chi Xiyan stood frozen in place, watching Chi Muxue’s retreating figure.

She felt a hollow emptiness in her chest.

“ Hah …”

She drew in a deep breath, gripping the small jade sword tightly in her hand.

“Do not worry. I will take you back…”

“Whether this is illusion or reality, I will not let anyone hurt you!”

Three years from now, at the duel on Lingxiao Mountain that would settle the pact, she could only win, never lose.

***

Chi Xiyan returned to her own courtyard.

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Without a path through the Lingbao Commerce Association, if she wanted to obtain those rare herbs, she would have to find another way.

Chi Xiyan drew up a list, writing down every rare herb she needed.

Some of these herbs required special methods of harvest and were difficult to preserve. Others grew only in dangerous places, hard to obtain under ordinary circumstances. Even at the great pharmacies, they were priceless and simply unavailable.

Many of these herbs had no substitutes at all.

Without the herbs, she could not refine the pills, and without those pills, she had no way at all to defeat Song Shixuan.

Bang!

A wave of frustration rose in Chi Xiyan’s heart, and she slammed a fist onto the table.

“Heh… I should stay calm…”

“Heaven never seals off every path, perhaps there is another way to solve this.”

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door once more.

“Who is it?!”

“Miss Xiyan, it is me, Luluo.” The maid’s voice came from outside the door. “The family head has sent someone to find you. He said he wants you to come see him.”

“The family head wants to see me now?”

Chi Xiyan’s brow furrowed.

She thought of what Chi Muxue had told her before leaving.

“Is this about Muxue being taken away?”

“I am not sure.” The maid Luluo paused for a moment, then said, “It seems to be about the Lingbao Commerce Association.”

“The Lingbao Commerce Association?”

Chi Xiyan was somewhat surprised.

Chi Jingwen had always kept a tight grip on the Lingbao Commerce Association.

Not to mention Chi Xiyan, a mere adopted eldest daughter, who had never had access to it, even Chi Muxue found it difficult to have any real hand in the Lingbao Commerce Association’s affairs.

Why would Chi Jingwen come to her about the Lingbao Commerce Association now, of all times?

Still, the best path to obtaining those rare herbs was through the Lingbao Commerce Association.

Thinking of this, Chi Xiyan murmured to herself, her expression grave.

“Whatever Chi Jingwen is scheming, for Muxue’s sake, I must go see him at least once.”

***

Before long, Chi Xiyan followed the maid to the Chi family’s main residence.

In that familiar study, she once again saw that familiar man.

The Chi family’s head, Chi Jingwen.

He still looked exactly as Chi Xiyan remembered.

He sat behind the desk, and looked up.

Seeing Chi Xiyan, a smile spread across his face.

“You have come, niece.”

He said it so warmly.

Yet Chi Xiyan’s own manner remained quite reserved.

“Family Head.” She walked into the study and gave Chi Jingwen a simple bow. “What did you wish to see me for?”

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Chi Jingwen’s brow furrowed slightly, sensing the distance in Chi Xiyan’s words.

“I already know that Muxue was taken away by the Lingxiao Sword Sect.” He raised his head, worry written across his face. “For the trip to Lingxiao Mountain three years from now, do you have confidence you can defeat Song Shixuan?”

Hearing this, Chi Xiyan shook her head. “Song Shixuan is the Young Sect Master of the Lingxiao Sword Sect, with the Nanhe Song Clan supplying his resources behind him, and taught personally by both the Sect Master and Sword Venerable Qingzhi. Among our generation, there are very few who could surpass him in swordsmanship.”

Chi Jingwen sighed. “So this three year pact is, in truth, very difficult to fulfill, is it not?”

Chi Xiyan fixed her gaze on Chi Jingwen and said nothing.

Chi Jingwen shook his head with a bitter smile, and said, “Perhaps that child was simply fated to endure this trial.”

Chi Xiyan did not think so.

She found herself somewhat puzzled by Chi Jingwen’s attitude.

Still, for Chi Xiyan right now, the most important matter was still solving the problem of the rare herbs.

“Family Head, did you call me here about the Lingbao Commerce Association?”

“Mm.” Chi Jingwen nodded, his expression turning solemn. “I heard that you need certain herbs, and wished to use Muxue’s position to purchase some through the Lingbao Commerce Association.”

“Yes.” Chi Xiyan did not deny it.

“I see.” Chi Jingwen went on, “Originally, I had planned to gradually hand the Lingbao Commerce Association over to Muxue once she came of age, but I never expected something like this to happen.”

Chi Xiyan’s face showed no expression.

She was hardly about to believe Chi Jingwen’s nonsense.

“If Muxue could take over the Lingbao Commerce Association, with her ability, perhaps she could bring it to even greater heights.”

Speaking nonsense was something Chi Xiyan could certainly do too.

Chi Jingwen seemed rather pleased with Chi Xiyan’s own nonsense, stroking his beard and saying, “Muxue is my daughter, and the only one in this family who could truly become the master of the Lingbao Commerce Association.”

“Before she left, the person she thought most highly of was you.”

“So…” Chi Jingwen paused for a moment. “I want to hand the Chi family, along with the Lingbao Commerce Association, over to you.”

“…?” Hearing this, shock flashed across Chi Xiyan’s eyes.

Chi Jingwen intended to hand the Chi family and the Lingbao Commerce Association over to her, was this true?!

Was something wrong with her ears, or had this Chi Jingwen in front of her been possessed by someone else?

Chi Xiyan could not help but ask, “Family Head? Are you being serious?”

“What, do you not believe what I say?” Chi Jingwen let out a cold snort. “All of this was originally meant for Muxue.”

“If I had any other choice, I would not be handing this over to you.”

Chi Jingwen’s tone deepened slightly. “But Muxue thinks highly of you, she trusts you. I trust Muxue, so until she returns to the Chi family, the Chi family and the Lingbao Commerce Association will be under your management for the time being.”

Chi Xiyan frowned and said, “This… this is too sudden.”

Chi Jingwen looked up at her. “Do you not want it?”

“……”

Saying she did not want it would be a lie.

Chi Xiyan needed the resources of the Lingbao Commerce Association to purchase the rare herbs, and this move of Chi Jingwen’s was nothing short of timely help in the midst of hardship.

Chi Jingwen seemed to see straight through the longing in her heart, and let out a mocking laugh. “Enough, young one. No need to put on an act in front of me.”

“Let us be direct.”

“Since this old man has already said he will hand the Chi family and the association over to you, I will not go back on my word.”

“You only need to answer me, are you willing to take up this burden.”

Chi Xiyan pondered for a moment.

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If she truly could take over the Lingbao Commerce Association this smoothly, Chi Xiyan certainly would not refuse.

Only, something this important falling into her hands so easily made Chi Xiyan feel it was somewhat unreal.

She drew in a light breath, pushing down the suspicion in her heart.

She looked at Chi Jingwen, her gaze burning. “I am willing.”

A satisfied smile spread across Chi Jingwen’s face. “Now that is more like it, young one.”

With that, Chi Jingwen rose from his chair.

“Come with me, young one, I will first take you to the Chi family’s formation base, and hand over the household protection formation.”

Chi Jingwen lightly formed a hand seal.

The wall of the study twisted and shifted, and a pitch black hidden passage appeared before the two of them.

Chi Xiyan’s eyes narrowed slightly. This was the hidden passage leading to the core of the Chi family’s formation.

She had never had the chance to access it before, and never expected it to be hidden here.

While Chi Xiyan was still turning this over in her mind, Chi Jingwen had already stepped ahead into the hidden passage.

“Follow me.”

Chi Xiyan watched Chi Jingwen’s back, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

She still remembered what Chi Muxue had told her earlier.

“Do not trust Chi Jingwen…”

“Do not accept any help he offers you…”

Chi Muxue was Chi Jingwen’s own daughter. Chi Xiyan did not understand why she would say such a thing.

Was it because she had uncovered something?

“What is it, niece? Do you still not trust me?”

Chi Jingwen stood within the hidden passage, turning back to ask.

Chi Xiyan drew in a deep breath.

For Chi Muxue’s sake, even if it meant walking into a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair, she had to go through with it.

Besides, she could not think of any reason Chi Jingwen would want to harm her.

No matter how one looked at it, he still carried the Chi family name.

If something happened to Chi Xiyan, it would be that much harder for his own daughter to ever come back.

Thinking of this, Chi Xiyan stepped forward and followed after Chi Jingwen.

Soon, the two of them arrived at a hidden chamber covered entirely in formation runes.

Chi Jingwen raised a hand and pointed toward the center of the formation.

“Go sit there.”

“In a moment, I will transfer control of the Chi family’s formation over to you.”

Chi Xiyan looked at the formation at the center of the room, her brow furrowing slightly.

Something felt off, and she stopped in her tracks, staring fixedly at the formation.

“What is it?” Chi Jingwen urged. “You would not be having second thoughts at the last moment, would you?”

“Do you no longer want to save Chi Muxue?”

Chi Xiyan felt that there was an odd urgency woven into Chi Jingwen’s words.

What was he in such a hurry for?