83. Su Mei's Scheme
Jiang Wanxi quickly noticed the commotion in Jiang Wanru's room. Looking at Jiang Wanru's left arm, she covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief.
"Little sister, your hand..."
This matter wasn't kept secret; everyone on Mount Taixu already knew about it.
"This...it truly is demonic possession." Jingwei, examining Jiang Wanru's arm, gave her conclusion.
Everyone present looked at each other in disbelief, never expecting such a thing to happen on Mount Taixu.
"Master, Junior Sister Wanru's demonic possession is still in its early stages. Is there any way to save her?" Su Mei asked.
"Since he has fallen into demonic possession, there is no cure," Jingwei shook her head.
"This..."
Everyone present fell silent.
"Say goodbye properly," Jingwei uttered these words lightly, yet they made Jiang Wanxi and Jiang Wanru turn pale.
The others felt sorry for her, but said nothing.
"Senior Brother, could you please try to persuade Master?"
Chaoyu u tugged at Yun Ling's sleeve, her words filled with pleading.
"Impossible. Those who fall into demonic possession must be killed. This is a rule of the Mount Taixu sect, and you should be very clear about this."
"However, I can ask Master to give Wanru some more time. At least until you completely lose your mind, I will try my best to prevent Master from taking action."
"But you shouldn't go down the mountain during this period."
Yun Ling shook his head, his tone tinged with regret; this was the best he could do.
"Thank you... Thank you so much, Senior Brother..." Jiang Wanru's face was ashen, but she still bowed slightly to Yun Ling.
Tonight, Jiang Wanru's room was filled with incessant crying. The two sisters leaned on each other, Lin Chaoyu comforted them, and Su Mei sat to the side, lost in thought.
Ma Yanqing followed Su Mei, while Qin Suyi's eyes were filled with tears.
"Senior brother, did what I feel now is sadness?" Cheng Lingshuang was having insomnia for the first time, sitting outside in the wind.
"Yes, so cherish the time you spend with Wanru." Yun Ling nodded and walked towards Jingwei's room.
"Master, I have something to discuss with you."
"Come in."
Jingwei sat at the table, seemingly waiting for Yun Ling's arrival.
"Are you here to plead for Wanru?" Jingwei asked directly.
"What do you think, Master?" Yun Ling asked in return.
"I don't know." Jingwei was too lazy to guess Yun Ling's thoughts.
"...Could we kill Wanru just before she loses control?" Yun Ling asked directly.
"Yes," Jingwei replied without hesitation.
This surprised Yun Ling for a moment, then she subconsciously chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Jingwei frowned.
"People say that immortals are heartless, but in my opinion, people are easily deceived by appearances." Yun Ling shook his head.
"...Go get some rest." Jingwei didn't answer directly, but instead chased Yun Ling out of the room.
Since that day, a persistent gloom has lingered over Mount Taixu.
The smiles on everyone's faces vanished.
The two sisters spent their days in tears. Lin Chaoyu bought Jiang Wanru some cosmetics to cover it up, at least to make her left arm look less frightening.
Jingwei took Chaoyu down the mountain to the South China Sea to pay respects to her friends and Chaoyu's relatives.
"Perhaps it's possible..." Jiang Wanxi had a thought as she watched Jingwei leave.
"I advise you not to overthink it. Guess why Master didn't bring Senior Brother along?" Su Mei reminded them.
Among the eight disciples, Yun Ling was the most disobedient, but also the most obedient.
In at least twenty years of wielding his sword, he never showed mercy to those who had "fallen into demonic possession."
The reason Yun Ling was left on the mountain was to take care of them and also to keep an eye on them.
Lin Chaoyu might soften her heart for a moment, but Yun Ling would never do it.
Therefore, it was absolutely impossible for Jiang Wanru to secretly run down the mountain while under his watch.
Even if somehow she manages to get down the mountain, she'll probably be caught and brought back within half a day, given the searching ability of Yun Ling and Jingwei.
To prevent her from escaping further, they might even kill her on the spot...
This is the attitude of Jingwei and Yun Ling.
"If we want Junior Sister Wanru to survive, there is only one plan left."
Su Mei whispered something in the ears of the two sisters.
As their eyes widened, their expressions gradually shifted to disbelief, never expecting Su Mei to be so audacious.
"Shh," Su Mei whispered cautiously.
Yun Ling, outside, is keeping a close eye on every move of Mount Taixu.
"Think it over carefully." Su Mei got up and left Jiang Wanru's room.
The two looked at each other, never expecting that Su Mei would be so outrageous.
After some time, Jingwei returned with Lin Chaoyu.
She carried large and small bags on her back, all of which were gifts she brought back for everyone after coming down the mountain.
Lin Chaoyu always does this, trying to take care of everyone on Mount Taixu.
Perhaps because she had practiced the Taixu Sword Qi, Jiang Wanru's rate of erosion wasn't fast.
At least for now, it should be able to hold on for quite some time.
One day, after Jingwei came down from the mountain, Lin Chaoyu and Su Mei cooked a table full of delicious dishes.
"What day is it today? It's so lavish..." Yun Ling couldn't help but feel a little curious.
"Today is Junior Sister Wanru's birthday," Su Mei explained.
Yun Ling looked at Jiang Wanru, a rare smile appearing on her face.
"So that's how it is... We should have a proper celebration. It's a pity that Master went down the mountain a few days ago, otherwise we could have made it in time..." Yun Ling nodded.
"Master would be very happy to know that Senior Brother Yun Ling has this intention," Su Mei said with a smile.
Lin Chaoyu looked at Yun Ling, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.
Fear, shock, unease... and a little bit of expectation hidden deep inside.
Let's go back to a short time ago.
Lin Chaoyu felt terrible looking at the two sisters who were always in tears.
Her beliefs began to waver; had she truly fallen into demonic possession... and had she really to die?
At this point, Su Mei told her about her plan to kill Jingwei.
"How can this be!" Lin Chaoyu exclaimed vehemently.
"If Master dies, then Senior Brother Yun Ling will have completely lost his reason to live... If someone were to enter his heart at this time..."
Su Mei's tone was highly seductive.
"You know, as long as Master is alive, then... You will never get Senior Brother."
"Furthermore, do you really think that 'those who fall into demonic ways must be killed' is the right thing to do?"
"You've wanted to get rid of your master for a long time, haven't you? Isn't this... a great opportunity?" Su Mei asked.
She already knew about Lin Chaoyu's extremely complex feelings for Jingwei.
From initial anticipation to a gradual desire to distance oneself.
That extremely cold-hearted nature was something that no one but Yun Ling could tolerate.
The longer I stayed by her side, the more I wanted to escape.
Seeing Lin Chaoyu's complex and changing expression, Su Mei smiled.
Everything was going according to her plan.
Master...please don't blame me.
...