NABC Chapter 45 Drawing a Circle on the Ground as a Prison
Chapter 45 Drawing a Circle on the Ground as a Prison
Chapter 45 Drawing a Circle on the Ground as a Prison
"When are we leaving?" Yang Yan asked calmly. She wasn't worried about Zhou Yi's safety at all. In fact, anyone who had witnessed Nan Tiancheng's palm strike that pierced through heaven and earth and reversed the course of events would not have the slightest doubt about the outcome of his battle with Jin Renfeng.
"Now," Zhou Yi replied, his arms still firmly holding Qin Lan, who was gradually stopping her sobs but still unwilling to let go.
"The Wang Quan family sent a message," Yang Yan relayed, watching his expression closely, "They want to meet with you first."
"It would be good to see her." Zhou Yi's expression remained unchanged, but his tone became more serious. "She has suffered so much over the years."
With Dongfang Guyue gone, he became Huaizhu and Qinlan's strongest support in this world, both a brother and a father. Back then, forced by circumstances, Huaizhu had to marry into the Wang Quan family as a concubine under a false name—a decision born of utter helplessness. Now that she has returned, how could they allow her to suffer such a humiliating status again?
If the royal family cannot give him a sufficiently satisfactory explanation—
He wouldn't mind testing the so-called Heaven and Earth Sword King's Family before killing Jin Renfeng. In a single day, he achieved the feat of conquering the gates of two of the world's top powers.
"Can we go watch the battle?" Yang Yan asked again, glancing at Qin Lan in her arms and also at Mu Mie, who had put away his wooden sword and was looking at them with concern.
"Okay." Zhou Yi nodded, showing no intention of objecting, but added, "However, you need to stay far away and keep close to the old man."
"Hmph!" A disgruntled snort echoed from the courtyard. Yang Yifang, who had appeared unnoticed, stood with his hands behind his back, his beard and hair slightly tossed, his eyes as sharp as ever. "In this world, I'm afraid only a reckless brat like you would dare to call me 'old man' to my face."
Zhou Yi hadn't deliberately concealed his aura completely; he had only revealed a trace of it so that the current head of the Yang family, the Heavenly Eye Clan, would notice. He was an uninvited guest, and while he deserved respect, he also needed to be informed.
"The last person I called that was that old man from the East." Zhou Yi looked at Yang Yifang, a rare complex and solemn look flashing in his eyes. "I'm very sorry about Yang Yitan's matter."
Mentioning the name of that exceptionally talented but prematurely deceased prodigy of the Yang family, the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze for a moment.
Yang Yifang was silent for a moment, then waved his hand. The deep wrinkles on his face were particularly clear in the sunlight. They were not entirely filled with sorrow, but also with a sense of composure and relief after weathering many storms: "It has nothing to do with you. That kid Wang Quanba Ye later told us the whole story. It was because they were young and impetuous that they ignored your advice beforehand and insisted on going deep into dangerous territory—they only have themselves to blame, and they can't blame anyone else."
His tone turned stern, carrying the characteristic severity of a family elder, a mixture of heartache and anger at their lack of ambition: "Hmph! A bunch of ignorant brats! They always think that the admonitions of their elders are a constraint, a sign of looking down on them—when disaster strikes, it will be too late for regrets!"
When old stories are brought up again, they inevitably become tinged with the ashes of time and the bitter taste of regret.
Zhou Yi sighed almost imperceptibly, said no more about the matter, and then said, "I will set off immediately for Wangquan Manor. Besides seeing Huaizhu, I also have something to announce."
His gaze was clear and upright as he looked at Yang Yifang: "I humbly request that the old patriarch deign to bear witness for me at that time."
Yang Yifang met his gaze, a discerning glint in his aged yet still sharp eyes. He slowly nodded, his tone tinged with an unspoken emotion: "That old fellow Dongfang Guyue—if he has a spirit in heaven and knows what happened today, I think his biggest regret would be why he didn't meet you sooner and truly take you under his wing." He had guessed what Zhou Yi was about to do.
Royal family, inner courtyard study.
Wang Quanba was discussing something in hushed tones with the slightly plump, kind-faced steward Fei when a series of hurried, staggering footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. Immediately afterward, a servant rushed in in a panic, not even bothering with proper etiquette.
"Young...Young Master!"
Wang Quanba frowned and said in a deep voice, "What's all this panic? What kind of behavior is this!"
The servant, panting, his face filled with an unprecedented panic, cried out, "Outside—there's a visitor outside!"
"Who is visiting? Whom do they wish to see?" Wang Quanba asked.
"The one who came was extremely imposing, and he said he wanted to see the head of the family, saying that he had come to demand an explanation!" The servant swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "As for his identity, he did not say so, and I dare not ask."
However, I had the privilege of seeing the person accompanying him from afar once, and it seemed to be—the old patriarch of the Yang family!
"The old patriarch of the Yang family? Yang Yifang?" Wang Quanba and Butler Fei were both taken aback. They quickly exchanged a glance and saw the same guess and surprise in each other's eyes.
A person who needs Yang Yifang's personal accompaniment and dares to openly demand an explanation from Wangquan Manor —
Wang Quanba suddenly stood up from his seat, his robes billowing in the wind: "It's Senior Brother Zhou! It must be Senior Brother Zhou!"
He was no longer as composed as usual, and said to Butler Fei in a very fast voice, "Old Fei, I'll go greet him!" After saying that, he strode towards the door, his steps carrying a hint of barely perceptible urgency and—anxiety.
Before leaving, he turned back and urgently instructed the still-dazed servant, "Go to the backyard immediately and inform the madam!"
Butler Fei did not follow immediately, but stood still. His round face, which always wore a kind smile, was now filled with a solemn and complex expression. The servant's words echoed in his mind—"Demand an explanation."
Ugh.
He sighed silently to himself. Looking back now, he realized that what the Wang family, especially certain members of the clan, had done back then was indeed—not very honorable, and rather inappropriate.
With the sudden fall of the Lonely Moon of the East, the Divine Mountain Manor was thrown into turmoil. Although Dongfang Huaizhu was the legitimate daughter, she had lost her greatest support. For a woman who could no longer provide substantial assistance to the family, even if the young master was fond of her, how many of the elders in the family would be willing to openly offend Jin Renfeng, who was at the height of his power and had achieved great cultivation, for her sake? Being able to bring her into the manor for protection under the guise of a "concubine" was already the result of careful consideration and could even be said to be the result of the young master's best efforts.
Family interests come first, and human relationships can be cold and indifferent; sometimes, this is the reality that is both realistic and cruel.
But who could have foreseen that karma would turn out this way, and retribution would be swift and certain? The "Lone Peak Sword," long thought to have perished or fallen into oblivion, would suddenly reappear, and return with such a magnificent and invincible presence, seeking justice for the descendants of his former friend!
Nothing could be more wondrous as this, and more capricious as fate.
Butler Fei shook his head, composed himself, and turned to walk quickly in another direction—he had to see the head of the family, Wang Quan Shouzhuo, immediately.
This nominal head of the Wangquan family and leader of the Yiqi Dao Alliance has long been living a secluded life due to his frail health. He has entrusted all the tedious affairs of the clan and even the Dao Alliance to him, who grew up with him and whose abilities and skills are top-notch.
For this reason, Steward Fei wields a pivotal, even transcendent, influence within the Wangquan family and even within the Yiqi Dao Alliance. Even Yang Yifang, the head of the Tianyan Yang family, must treat him as an "old friend" and dare not neglect him.
This power allowed him to secretly block some key information from Wang Quan Shouzhuo and Wang Quan Baye during the Battle of Nantian City, preventing the young master, whose sword spirit was already damaged, and his sick lord from getting involved in such a dangerous battle.
At the time, he believed he was acting in the long-term interests of the family and to protect the safety of the two.
But now it seems that this "good intention" and "balance" have probably inadvertently sown seeds of dissatisfaction and estrangement towards the Wang family, especially the young master and the head of the family, in the heart of the powerful Lone Peak Swordsman who has returned in force.
Butler Fei hurried along, and even his usual calm and collected demeanor, accustomed to strategizing and planning, was tinged with a rare hint of regret and solemnity.
As the head of the Wangquan family, Wang Quan Shouzhuo's courtyard was not large, but rather secluded in a corner of the mountain villa. In the courtyard was a small, shallow pond where a few koi carp swam leisurely. The stone table and benches by the pond were simple to the point of being desolate.
He would sit by the pond all day, with a pot of tea and a few cups, watching the sunlight and cloud shadows change on the water's surface, and the seasons flow by within that small space. This posture truly conveyed a sense of self-exile, a self-imposed confinement, and the solitude and indifference of observing the sky from within a well.
Butler Fei walked in slowly, turned around and gently closed the courtyard gate, shutting out the noise from the outside world. He stopped three steps behind Wang Quan Shouzhuo, looking at the back of the man who, even sitting, was still upright but could not hide his frail and sickly appearance. He swallowed hard before speaking, his voice lower than usual: "Master, the Lone Peak Sword—has arrived."
"So you've come." Wang Quan Shouzhou didn't turn around, but simply reached out and picked up the slightly warm teacup. His voice was calm and even, revealing no emotion. "Shouldn't our human race be happy to have such a promising descendant who surpasses his predecessors?"
"This—" Butler Fei's usual warm smile had vanished, replaced by deep worry and a barely perceptible hint of fear. "The other party—made it clear they've come to demand an explanation. It's about Miss Huaizhu."
"Regarding Huaizhu—" Wang Quan Shouzhuo took a sip of tea, put down the cup, and the porcelain bottom made a soft sound against the stone table. "This matter can be left to my daughter-in-law to handle. She is a sensible and reasonable woman. It is a blessing for Ba Ye to have her as his wife." His tone remained calm, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
"And—" Butler Fei opened his mouth, but the rest of the words seemed to get stuck in his throat, and for a moment he didn't know how to say them. This powerful figure who could shake the Qi Dao Alliance with a stomp of his foot outside seemed to have turned back into the cautious "Little Fei" in front of Wang Quan Shou Zhuo.
Wang Quan Shouzhuo sighed almost inaudibly, his voice carrying a hint of understanding and weariness: "Sigh—it's about the Nantian City incident, isn't it?"
Without waiting for Butler Fei's reply, he continued slowly, "Little Fei, I know you meant well at the time, worried that Ba Ye's sword heart was unstable and that I might lose my life if I entered another dangerous situation, and also afraid that my frail body couldn't withstand the ordeal—"
He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through the water's surface, gazing into the distant void: "But—people always die. Sometimes, there's no inherent superiority between clinging to life and dying a martyr. Wrong is wrong."
His voice suddenly became clear and firm, carrying an undeniable determination: "This matter is your fault, and even more so, the fault of our royal family. If we are wrong, we must admit it."
"Go and admit it." He turned his head slightly, glancing at the frozen figure behind him. "Tell him, and tell the world, that our Wangquan family was wrong."
"I, Wang Quanshou, am of meager virtue and limited talent. Despite holding the position of Alliance Leader, I have failed to fulfill my duty of protection and am unworthy to continue in this position. From this day forward, I relinquish my position as Alliance Leader of the Qi Dao Alliance and request that—a person of virtue and ability take over."
"Master! No! Absolutely not!" Butler Fei was struck dumb, his head snapping up, all color draining from his face. His voice trembled with extreme shock and resistance. "It's all my fault! I acted on my own initiative, I concealed the information! I'm willing to die to atone for my sins! Master, you absolutely cannot say you're stepping down! The clan elders will never agree to it!"
"Do I, Wang Quan Shou Zhuo, need their consent to act?" Wang Quan Shou Zhuo's voice was still not loud, but it suddenly carried an air of authority that brooked no dissent, and accompanying his words was a clear and sharp sword cry that seemed to cut through the air: "Clang—!!!"
A golden streak of light pierced through the air from a forbidden area deep within the manor, carrying an unparalleled sword intent that was both majestic and aloof. In an instant, it pierced right in front of Steward Fei, ringing out with a clang, its sharp aura causing him to gasp for breath.
It is the symbol of the supreme authority and power of the royal family—the Royal Sword!
"From this day forward," Wang Quan Shouzhuo said with his back to him, his voice devoid of any emotion, yet each word struck Fei the butler's heart like a nail, "Ba Ye will be the new head of the Wang Quan family."
"Take your sword and leave."
Butler Fei stared wide-eyed at the divine sword before him, a symbol of supreme glory and heavy responsibility. His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a word. A tremendous emotion, a mixture of regret, powerlessness, and sorrow, instantly gripped him.
He reached out his hand, trembling, not to grasp the sword hilt, but to bow deeply, deeply, to Wang Quan Shouzhuo's back, which had never turned around, performing a deep bow that was almost at a right angle.
Then, with both hands, he very slowly and heavily lifted the royal sword that now seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
Holding his sword, he bowed deeply once more to that lonely figure before turning around, his steps unsteady yet unusually heavy, pushing open the courtyard gate, and stepping into the bright but dazzling sunlight outside.
The courtyard fell silent once more.
Only a gentle breeze occasionally ripples across the water, creating barely visible ripples that disrupt the small patch of reflection.
The blue sky, neatly cut off by the high walls, also blurred the lonely figure of the person by the pool.
Wang Quan Shouzhuo maintained that posture, sitting as still as a stone, but his gaze was no longer unfocused. He looked at the fragmented and reconstituted sky and cloud shadows in the water, and at his own pale and weary reflection, framed in this square courtyard and a shallow pool of water.
This small space was the boundary he drew with his own hands; this corner above his head was the cage he willingly imprisoned his gaze in.
To draw a circle on the ground and confine oneself to a cage, or to sit in a well and only see the sky.
It is self-imposed confinement, but also self-reflection.
Once upon a time, he was also full of vigor, pointing his sword at the world, looking down on all under heaven, wanting to create an everlasting peace for the human race.
However, the illness was deep-seated and persistent, the family's interests weighed heavily, and the complexities of life far exceeded expectations.
As I walked along, I unknowingly found myself in this predicament, where I was caught between a rock and a hard place.
He had done his best, but ultimately, human strength has its limits.
The water returned to calm, and the reflection was clear and picturesque.
He slowly closed his eyes, as if he had become one with the courtyard, the water, and the sky that resembled the mouth of a well.
In this life, I do not seek to command the heavens and the earth, but only to... have a clear conscience.