From start to finish, Song Jinyu didn't say another word to Zhongli Mingye. Nor did she drive him away again...
It's all for the best... Let him see her clearly. She thought silently, not slowing down her horse at all. The mountain wind blew strongly, startling countless sleeping small animals in the dark night.
Zhong Yuanliu sized up Song Jinyu and sighed. Sure enough... everything was within Miao Yunshen's calculations. No matter how intelligent she was, she was still trapped in the game.
What a pity...
Despite their traveling day and night, the people from the Three Sects had silently surrounded the entire Tianmen Mountain.
Whether Song Jinyu could enter Tianmen Mountain smoothly was still unknown.
Because Tianmen Mountain had always been easy to defend but difficult to attack. Its geographical location was extremely advantageous. Coupled with the perennial miasma covering it, ordinary people could hardly enter. Especially with the numerous traps inside. One careless step could lead to the death of outsiders.
Since Du Zhouli had already seized power, he wouldn't allow any unexpected problems.
Zhong Yuanliu sighed slightly in his heart. He was in a bit of a dilemma. On one hand, he was from Tianmen Mountain. On the other hand, both the Tianqian Sect and the Tianying Sect were under the control of the Tianyan Sect. If possible, the Three Sects didn't want to interfere in the dispute over the succession of the Tianmen Mountain's sect leader position.
But... He remembered the day when Song Jinyu used a ruse to subdue him and Cheng Song. That young girl was only ten years old at that time, yet she already had an otherworldly charm.
Shaking his head, the suspicion in his eyes fell into Song Jinyu's. "Yuanliu..."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"I will entrust the future of the Three Sects to you..." What does it mean to manage subordinates? Song Jinyu knew how to use both kindness and severity, just like when she asked Ji Biluoluo to go down the tomb with her.
To win people's hearts, one should offer the benefits they yearn for.
Zhong Yuanliu didn't respond to her words but said, "Miss, the sect leader has been extremely kind to me!"
"But... the Tianqian Sect will stand behind you no matter what." He gave a bitter smile. Song Jinyu was the sect leader of the Tianyan Sect, and the sect leader of the Tianying Sect was her loyal guard.
What could Zhong Yuanliu do?
Seemingly satisfied with his answer, "Since that's the case, follow this young lady through fire and water!"
Her eyes became more and more determined. She no longer looked like an innocent young girl but was covered with a layer of frost. It seemed that overnight, she had grown up.
Zhongli Mingye silently accompanied her. Hearing these words, he felt even more heartache. Once upon a time, under the care of her family and himself, she was innocent and happy, just like a delicate orchid.
They had no reservations about each other, and their hearts were filled with each other. Unfortunately... In just a few days, everything had changed completely.
Finally, they arrived at the foot of Tianmen Mountain.
Originally, Zhong Yuanliu suggested they enter from the back mountain, but Song Jinyu disagreed. "My master passed away suddenly. I'm his most beloved junior disciple. What's wrong with me coming back to mourn?"
But...
At the foot of the mountain, she was stopped by the elders' council. "The new sect leader has ordered that no irrelevant people are allowed to go up the mountain."
"Presumptuous! How dare you stop the young lady?" Niaoniao glared at those people. An old man stroked his beard and said, "Tianmen Mountain hasn't officially announced the funeral yet. How did you know?"
Zhong Yuanliu was angry. "You..." Unexpectedly, he was interrupted by the sound of Song Jinyu's whip. "Tianyan Sect, listen up. Whoever dares to stop us in front will be killed..."
"This young lady doesn't care how high a position or how glorious a person is on Tianmen Mountain. If they become a corpse..."
"They all stink the same!" Her voice was cold, like a glass wind chime.
After saying that, she whipped those people aside. Seeing her act like this, Zhong Yuanliu and Cheng Song stepped forward. One stroke of the sword for each person, and in an instant, the blood soaked the land under their feet.
Zhongli Mingye coldly watched everything that happened in front of him and motioned for Qingfeng to help as well. Song Jinyu raised her whip again, but he caught it. "Be good. Be careful not to hurt your hand..."
Seeing the cold determination in his eyes, Song Jinyu obediently put down the whip. She just waited for Zhong Yuanliu and Cheng Song to lead the people to clear a bloody path.
She slowly walked up the steps, stepping on the blood, firm with each step. Zhongli Mingye accompanied her. His hand in his sleeve loosened and then tightened. He really wanted to reach out to stop Song Jinyu, but... Now, he couldn't and wouldn't.
When Du Zhouli and Ouyang Jinse got the news, Song Jinyu and her group had already rushed to the main hall.
The magnificent main hall carried the vicissitudes of hundreds of years. The towering roof was decorated with lifelike cranes.
After years of baptism, it had lost its bright colors, only leaving behind the mottled traces of time.
On Tianmen Mountain, Song Jinyu looked up at the increasingly bright sun. It shone on the glazed tiles, and there seemed to be a faint stream of colorful light.
The few disciples guarding outside the main hall naturally recognized Song Jinyu. He Yan stepped forward. "Junior sister..."
After stepping into the main hall, Song Jinyu's eyes instantly lost all their luster, only leaving behind the simple and ancient nanmu coffin inlaid with dark gold.
Was that her master?
She paced slowly, her steps unsteady. Song Jinyu's body swayed slightly. Zhongli Mingye finally couldn't help but want to support her, but... The young girl quickly steadied herself.
Wen Sirong rushed over. He looked at Song Jinyu with a complex expression. "Yuer..."
Song Jinyu trembled as she touched the coffin with both hands. Was the person "sleeping" inside her master, Miao Yunshen?
Didn't they agree that he would go down the mountain to send her off on her wedding day?
Why? Why did her master suddenly die? She didn't understand. She struggled to push open the coffin lid, but unfortunately... She didn't have the strength.
Suddenly, a pair of well - jointed hands touched hers and helped her push it open.
Her master was lying inside, his face sallow. His eyes were slightly closed, as if he was taking a nap.
"Master... Yuer is back!" For some reason, Song Jinyu didn't shed a single tear. She reached out to touch her master's face.
It was bone - chillingly cold, scaring her into retracting her hand.
"Is he sleeping?"
Her eyes were unfocused, but Wen Sirong knew that Song Jinyu was asking him.
Wen Sirong didn't know how to answer. He said painfully, "Master has passed away!"
Instantly, the blood rushed to her throat. Song Jinyu couldn't hold it back anymore and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Zhongli Mingye felt extremely heartache. He reached out and hugged her into his arms.
He held her hand and transferred some of his inner strength to her.
Ouyang Jinse and Du Zhouli rushed in. The first thing they saw was Zhongli Mingye holding Song Jinyu. The young girl's face was deathly pale, with a trace of blood at the corner of her lips. Her eyes were tightly closed, as if she had fainted.
Even though he hated her to the core, at this moment, Ouyang Jinse still felt heartache.
He still couldn't bring himself to harm Song Jinyu... He still felt heartache for her...
"Yuer! You're being too presumptuous..." As soon as Du Zhouli's voice fell, Zhongli Mingye's cold gaze swept over like a knife.
Du Zhouli had to lower his voice. "Why did you kill so many people?"
Wen Sirong coldly looked at Du Zhouli. Then, he suddenly knelt down in front of Song Jinyu. "The eldest disciple of Tianmen Mountain, together with the sect leader's disciples, welcomes the young master to take his rightful position!"