A secret had been buried for ten whole years. Now, at last, the truth was revealed. Lian Hua, a man of deep emotions and loyalty, had left Hai Gong filled with sentiment. Moved by the situation, Hai Gong issued a special order, commanding the monks in the temple to guard the pond and forbidding them from spreading news of Lian Hua’s affairs.
When word spread that Magistrate Tao had fallen from power, the common people rejoiced, clapping their hands in delight. As for Zheng Ke’s death, Hai Gong publicly declared that it was the vengeful spirit of Hai Ming who had taken his life. After all, Zheng Ke had been a notorious tyrant, making this explanation a perfect example of karmic retribution. It also served as a warning to the people. In these times, when belief in ghosts and spirits was strong, the constables’ vivid retelling of Hai Ming’s ghostly appearance left little room for doubt.
Hai Gong had originally planned to bestow a generous reward upon Hong Ning, only to find that she had already vanished.
At dawn, Hong Ning had already left the temple, hurrying back home.
The March sunlight shone brilliantly. From afar, a cluster of fir trees appeared nestled in a mountain hollow. At the edge of the woods stood a few small thatched cottages, their straw roofs trembling slightly in the breeze. The scene was natural and rustic, as beautiful as a traditional ink painting. To someone accustomed to towering buildings of concrete and steel, these houses might seem unbearably simple. However, Hong Ning had never felt the slightest dissatisfaction with them—because only she knew how warm and comfortable they truly were. Having lived here for over ten years, every house, every blade of grass and tree in the vicinity was familiar and dear to her. It was a feeling akin to "home."
The stone steps were spotless, and the door was slightly ajar.
Hong Ning halted instinctively, a growing unease stirring in her chest—so strong that it made her heart pound. But she couldn’t quite explain why. Bai Ling had told her he would come to the temple to find her today, yet she hadn’t run into him at all along the way.
Had he already learned that everything had been resolved, so he no longer came?
Trying to reassure herself, she stepped forward and pushed open the door.
The moment the door opened, she finally understood what had felt so wrong. The two windows, usually wide open, were now tightly shut, dimming the room’s light. The two people inside appeared much the same as always—Wen Xin sat cross-legged on the bamboo couch, his eyes closed in meditation, while Bai Ling stood beside him, his expression blank.
The difference was the bloodstain on the ground—and the extra person.
Dressed in snow-white robes, her hair as pale as frost, the woman was heartbreakingly beautiful. She sat motionless on the floor, staring blankly into space.
“No matter what happens, it is all fated,” Hong Ning recalled Jin Xiu’s words from last night. A vague realization dawned on her, her face changing as she quickly stepped forward. “Master!”
Wen Xin opened his eyes and smiled. “You’re back.”
Hong Ning turned to Bai Ling, her voice cold. “Was it her?”
For the first time, guilt appeared on his flawless face. Bai Ling averted his gaze, refusing to meet her eyes.
Wen Xin shook his head. “I had long foreseen this calamity. That is why I secluded myself to cultivate my inner elixir, yet in the end, I still could not escape fate. These things were destined—blaming her serves no purpose.”
“I don’t believe in fate!” Hong Ning shouted angrily, striding up to He Lan Xue. “It’s fine that you like my senior brother, but now you’ve harmed my master!”
He Lan Xue bit her lip and turned her face away. “As long as he comes back with me, I wouldn’t have…”
Before Wen Xin could stop her, a sharp slap rang through the air—Hong Ning had already struck He Lan Xue across the face.
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