Chapter 896: Surrender or Submit?
The Qiushan family head was somewhat surprised and asked, "Although I don't know who set up this scheme, I fail to see how it concerns you?"
Qiushan Jun placed the grilled fish on a stone and explained earnestly, "Consider this: if this scheme succeeds, wouldn't it prove that Chen Changsheng is an idiot?"
The Qiushan family head said, "Chen Changsheng might have some talent in sword cultivation and scholarly knowledge, but when it comes to strategy, he's not even fit to tie your shoes."
Qiushan Jun replied with some helplessness, "I don't plan to go up the mountain, so you don't need to use these methods to stall for time."
The Qiushan family head grinned and said, "Foolish."
This was still a response to the earlier question.
Qiushan Jun said, "Everyone knows that Yourong is very fond of Chen Changsheng. If Chen Changsheng truly is a crude and foolish fellow, wouldn't that make Yourong seem foolish as well?"
The Qiushan family head thought it over and said, "This reasoning isn't very sound, but it can't stop some people from thinking that way."
Qiushan Jun said, "There you have it. If Yourong is foolish, then I, who am so fond of her, would be even more foolish, wouldn't I?"
The Qiushan family head was left speechless and said, "Even if you want to break this deadlock for Chen Changsheng, you have no evidence. Are you planning to squander your reputation again like you did in Wenshui City? Building up goodwill isn't easy; you can't just throw it away on trivial matters like this, especially when that fellow is your rival."
Qiushan Jun smiled and said nothing more, focusing entirely on eating the grilled fish.
……
At the summit of Holy Maiden Peak, clear light shone everywhere. A gentle breeze rustled the green vines on the stone wall, producing a rustling sound. Soon, the dense forest echoed with many more rustling sounds as countless spirit beasts emerged from beneath the grass and pine needles, their dark, round eyes fixed on the direction of the stone wall, as if sensing that a major event was about to occur. Even more rare birds and fowl flew in from the thousand green peaks of the Plumfall Mountain Range, circling the summit endlessly, forming a beautiful ribbon.
Deep within the cave dwelling beyond the stone wall, the crystal fragments scattered like grains of sand on the ground still gleamed with dazzling luster. The flat bed carved entirely from cold jade was even more eye-catching than the crystals, but what truly drew all gazes was the breathtakingly beautiful woman sitting cross-legged on the jade bed.
Xu Yourong sat with her eyes closed in meditation and enlightenment. Her skin was as white as snow, so delicate it seemed it might break at a touch. Reflecting the light of the crystals and pearls in the cave, it appeared almost translucent. Her long, slender eyelashes rested quietly over her eyes, like the first few tender leaves of the camphor trees growing among the cliffs—exquisitely beautiful.
At some unknown moment, perhaps when the breeze stirred the green vines outside the stone wall, her long lashes seemed to flutter as well, gently blinking. Then she awoke. In the first moments of waking, her captivating eyes still held a trace of dazed emotion, making her look as innocent and naive as a child.
Time flowed like water through her mind and body. The faint daze in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by her usual calm and serenity, like a mountain forest washed by a gentle rain during the Qingming Festival, filled with a fresh vitality. A single glance at her made one feel they never wanted to leave.
Her gaze fell upon the Fate Star Disk before her. The complex star tracks on the disk began to move on their own, silently combining and dispersing. In a very short time, they simulated over thirty different star charts, ultimately pointing to a vast, mysterious, and perilous sea of stars.
Her expression grew solemn as she looked toward a potted flower on her right.
The flower was extraordinarily vibrant, with a massive, brilliant red blossom growing among tender green leaves. The contrast of green leaves and red flowers should have been the most vulgar image, but because this vulgarity had reached an extreme level, it had instead sublimated into a beauty that transcended appearances, even concealing some principle of heaven and earth, stirring the heart.
Extreme vulgarity does not necessarily equate to extreme elegance, and in many cases, it can never become elegance. But if it could, one might say: the Great Way is not far off.
Looking at that pot of green leaves and red flowers, Xu Yourong's emotions were complicated.
A moment later, all her emotions vanished, leaving only calm and serenity.
That was true steadfastness and unwavering resolve.
Yet there was still a trace of regret.
She smiled faintly and said, "Unable to reach full bloom—what a pity."
……
The ceremony at Hezhai was not held on Holy Maiden Peak but on a cliffside terrace atop another peak more than ten li away.
While Qiushan Jun was eating grilled fish and Xu Yourong was contemplating the flowers and the Dao, Chen Changsheng was facing an extremely dangerous trial.
Everyone now believed that Zhi Zhi had killed Bie Tianxin. Chen Changsheng knew this wasn't true, but he had no evidence to prove it, nor could he make Zhi Zhi appear for a confrontation. Thus, in the eyes of many, this seemed like a sign of guilt, or even direct proof that he was the true mastermind behind the murder in the Gorge River.
The disciples of Nanxi Zhai formed a sword formation to protect him. There were still some who would support him, such as Gou Hanshi and the disciples of Lishan Sword Sect, as well as Huaiyuan. But compared to the court forces represented by Prince Xiang and the sects that obeyed the court's orders, their numbers were far too few. Most critically, his opponents this time were Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi, two Saint Realm powerhouses, and they were deeply grieving the loss of their son, caring nothing for his status or identity.
How could Chen Changsheng resolve the current situation? Would he really have to rely on the Nanxi Zhai sword formation to hold them off and then escape in the chaos? After all, even the Nanxi Zhai sword formation, no matter how powerful, couldn't hold off so many true experts for long, especially when their enemies today were so numerous.
Everyone wanted to know what choice he would make, endlessly speculating in their minds.
But the choice he made still surprised everyone.
Chen Changsheng looked at Bie Yanghong and said, "I understand that all the evidence points against me and Zhusha. But I know myself that this matter was not done by her, nor did I order her to do it. However, I am willing to go with you. Until the truth of this matter is uncovered, I will stay by your side."
Hearing this, many were too shocked to speak.
"Going with you" was not a simple action; it meant he was giving up resistance and placing his life entirely in Bie Yanghong's hands.
For the Pope, this was an immense humiliation. More critically, what if Bie Yanghong simply killed him outright?
The bishop of the Southern Heavenly Dao Diocese's expression changed drastically, and he stammered, "Your Holiness, you absolutely cannot!"
Ping Xuan and some of the Nanxi Zhai girls were shocked, thinking this was unacceptable. Hu Sanshi also showed disapproval. As a bishop, he could never allow the Pope's safety to be placed in another's hands. Tang Thirty-Six and Gou Hanshi, however, remained silent, lost in thought.
Among those present, the ones who knew Chen Changsheng best were Tang Thirty-Six and Gou Hanshi.
They knew that Chen Changsheng would never allow the Holy Maiden Peak to become a river of blood with countless deaths just for his own safety. So, to resolve this matter, this was perhaps the only feasible method. But no one knew whether handing himself over to Bie Yanghong was a successful gamble or a foolish bet.
Bie Yanghong was steady in temperament and noble in character, but he was still a father. Would the pain of losing his son drive him to do something insane?