Chapter 625: Love
Nan Xiang looked at the two men and smiled. “The Celestial Profound Dual Pride. Having met you today, I can see your reputations are well-deserved. You have my admiration. However, I’ve come primarily for a private matter concerning my Thousand Nether Valley, so I must ask that you both not involve yourselves.”
Yum Tianyang raised a brow. “A private matter for Thousand Nether Valley? I don’t believe a private matter for the Thousand Nether Valley should be handled here in our Celestial Profound Sect.”
Nan Xiang simply smiled and shook her head. “That’s not necessarily true.”
Tangg Guanzhong asked impassively, “Oh? I’m quite curious. This private matter the Valley Master speaks of… what exactly is it?”
It wasn’t just Tangg Guanzhong; everyone around them was looking at Nan Xiang with great curiosity.
Beaming, Nan Xiang pointed at Chuu Qi and Chuu Guang. “I wonder, do Peak Master Tangg and Master Yum know the identities of these two?”
Tangg Guanzhong nodded. “I do. They were once disciples of your Thousand Nether Valley. Later, it seems they violated some sect rule and were expelled by your previous Valley Master.”
Nan Xiang nodded. “Correct. What Peak Master Tangg said is mostly right, but one detail is wrong.”
Tangg Guanzhong asked in confusion, “One detail? Which one?”
Nan Xiang replied, “The previous Valley Master did not expel them. It was a temporary exile.”
Hearing this, Chuu Qi roared, “Nan Xiang, stop the hypocritical act! You were there when it happened! You know better than anyone what went down. If it weren’t for the great contributions I made to the Sect, my brother and I would have been dead long ago!”
Wen Qingye, however, detected a thought-provoking undertone in Nan Xiang’s words. ‘If that’s the case, is Nan Xiang here to bring Chuu Qi back to the Thousand Nether Valley?’
After all, Chuu Qi was the Peak Master of Danxuan Peak, one of the Celestial Profound Sect’s Seven Peaks. He was at the very core of the sect’s leadership. If he were to return to Thousand Nether Valley, it wouldn’t just be a blow to the Celestial Profound Sect’s strength, but a major hit to its prestige as well.
Yum Tianyang’s expression darkened slightly. “Enough. Valley Master, let’s not beat around the bush. State your purpose directly.”
Nan Xiang nodded and said plainly, “I’ve come this time mainly to negotiate with the brothers, Chuu Guang and Chuu Qi, to see if they are willing to return to my Thousand Nether Valley.”
The crowd erupted.
Though many had vaguely guessed it, hearing Nan Xiang say it aloud still sent a shockwave through the onlookers.
The moment Nan Xiang finished speaking, Chuu Qi immediately shot back, “Impossible! I promised my master I would protect the Celestial Profound Sect for the rest of my life! I belong to the Celestial Profound Sect, in life and in death! As for Thousand Nether Valley, that is in the past.”
“Don’t be so quick to refuse.” Nan Xiang shook her head, then looked at the hesitant Chuu Guang, who seemed to want to speak but held back. “What about you, Chuu Guang? Do you feel the same way?”
“I…” Seeing Nan Xiang’s gaze fall upon him, Chuu Guang became tongue-tied.
Furious at his brother’s lack of resolve, Chuu Qi roared, “Big Brother, don’t forget the bloody lesson from before! You only get one life!”
Hearing Chuu Qi call him ‘Big Brother’, Chuu Guang’s body trembled slightly. He immediately turned to look at Chuu Qi’s anxious expression.
‘How many years has it been? How many years since Chuu Qi last called me Big Brother? I know what that means… it’s the bond between us. If it weren’t for me, how could someone with Chuu Qi’s talent have been driven out of Thousand Nether Valley, forced to wander like a stray dog?’
‘Over the years, he’s made things difficult for me at every turn, but wasn’t that also a form of protection? Otherwise, why would he have come with me all the way to the Celestial Profound Sect in this remote Northwest Border to become a disciple again?’
‘Back then, Chuu Qi’s talent was so great that even the previous Pavilion Master of Taiyi Pavilion had praised it highly. If he had gone to Taiyi Pavilion, he would have had a bright future.’
‘He came here with me… that was a bond of brotherhood thicker than water.’
The people of the Celestial Profound Sect had been completely fooled by appearances. The bond between the brothers was incredibly deep. Why else would Chuu Qi constantly give Chuu Guang a hard time, if not to protect him? It was all just a facade.
Chuu Guang turned his head and looked at Nan Xiang, his lips parting. But just as he was about to speak, his eyes locked with hers, and it was as if that gaze struck the softest, deepest part of his heart.
Nan Xiang looked at Chuu Guang. ‘I knew it,’ she thought. ‘As long as Chuu Guang agrees to return to Thousand Nether Valley, Chuu Qi is bound to follow. The root of it all lies with Chuu Guang. All I need to do is handle him.’
‘And as for him? I have my ways.’
Wen Qingye, sensing the aura emanating from Nan Xiang, was slightly startled. ‘No wonder Chuu Guang seems to be completely wrapped around her finger. So that’s it,’ he realized. ‘This Nan Xiang actually cultivates the Brahma Dao.’
‘The Brahma Dao is ranked three hundred and fourteen among the Three Thousand Great Dao. Its rank isn’t particularly high, but it’s an exceedingly bizarre path.’
‘With each new layer of cultivation, an additional Brahma’s Ring forms within the body. This ring is the essence of the Brahma Dao, and one who possesses it can cast it upon others.’
‘Once a person is struck by Brahma’s Ring, they fall in love with and become subservient to the caster for the rest of their life.’
‘That must be it. Chuu Guang must have been hit by Nan Xiang’s Brahma’s Ring. That’s why he’s acting this way.’
Seeing Chuu Guang’s hesitant expression, Chuu Qi could no longer contain his rage. He roared, “Damn you, Nan Xiang! If you dare continue this, don’t blame me for what happens next!”
A torrential amount of Primordial Qi erupted from Chuu Qi’s body. A powerful aura washed over everyone as he unleashed the full might of his Life and Death Realm Seventh Layer Heaven cultivation, ready to strike at any moment.
Chuu Guang’s expression changed at the sight. He quickly moved to stand in front of Chuu Qi. “Little Qi, don’t!”
“Big Brother! Stop being a fool!” Chuu Qi roared at the man blocking him.
Looking at the furious Chuu Qi before him, Chuu Guang hesitated again. “I…”
Nan Xiang added softly from the side, “Chuu Guang, the Thousand Nether Valley is waiting for you. And I’m waiting for you, too.”
BOOM!
In that instant, Chuu Guang felt his very heart tremble.
‘I’m not an idiot. I faintly know, just like back then, that she’s probably just using me. But I can’t go against the deepest desires of my heart.’
‘I’m stuck on the edge of a chasm, completely lost, not knowing what I should do.’
Sometimes, love was like this. Even when you knew it was a lie, as long as there was a sliver of hope, you would cling to it with infinite longing.
Knowing it was wrong, yet willing to make the same mistake over and over again.
On one side was his own brother, bound by blood thicker than water. On the other was the woman he could never forget.
‘Why? Why? Why is this happening?’
When love is a double-edged sword, the pain can be suffocating, enough to kill a man. The deeper the love, the deeper the blade cuts. Right now, Chuu Guang was enduring that very pain.
Chuu Guang felt like a man who couldn’t swim, struggling desperately in the water. He felt as if his heart was about to explode at any second.
“AHH!”