Forgotten Tale of Jianghu-Chapter 53: The Shift in Circumstances

Bai Jing Jing stared blankly at the bloodstained scene that had just unfolded on the stage. Something within her chest screamed to be let out, yet her lips remained sealed, and the words she longed to shout seemed trapped deep in her heart.

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At the center of it all was Chu Cao, kneeling beside Xin Long, cradling him with a sorrow so raw it seemed to drown the entire hall. Though Bai Jing Jing could only see Chu Cao's back, she could feel the intensity of her grief. The connection between Chu Cao and Xin Long—was it deeper than the bond she shared with him?

Yes... Chu Cao, who had lived like an ordinary person, relying on her protector in the absence of her father. Yet, the moment Xin Long was in danger, she revealed the martial arts she had long kept hidden. This alone was enough to show her true feelings toward him.

As Bai Jing Jing watched Xin Long's bloodied face being unwrapped from the cloth tied around it, a haunting echo of the past returned to her.

The realization that Xin Long and Chu Cao might be childhood friends weighed heavily on her mind. She had once taken a life without so much as batting an eye, yet now, despite leaping onto the stage, she had failed to kill Xin Long. Why?

Was it because of Xin Long's unyielding actions? She didn't know. Her body felt as if it had locked itself in place, refusing to move, and that feeling unsettled her deeply.

The man who had died in such a gruesome, wretched state was her fiancé. The one who had been struck—left uncertain whether he was dead or alive—was the man she had feelings for.

Was today the day her world collapsed?

As this overwhelming thought consumed her, she suddenly saw the monk Master Khong Shan swiftly leaping onto the stage.

...

Abbot Kongshan gazed down at the lifeless body of Xu Zhu Han, his disciple in all but name, the young man's wide, unseeing eyes frozen in shock. With a quiet sigh, he reached out, gently closing Xu Zhu Han's eyes with his right hand.

The soft sound of two sets of footsteps landing behind him broke the silence. Without turning, Abbot Kongshan instantly recognized them — Wudang Sect Leader and Bai Hongfu.

Around them, the hushed murmurs of the gathered martial artists slowly resumed, a cautious buzz that spread like ripples in a pond. Their voices were low, whispering speculations about the battle they had just witnessed.

To their eyes, it was simple: Xu Zhu Han had attacked Xin Long in a fit of rage.

And that fact alone — that Xin Long had merely defended himself — was enough to shield him from blame.

Abbot Kongshan's brow furrowed at the thought. He rose slowly to his feet, his gaze shifting toward the young girl who clung tightly to Xin Long.

He took a step forward.

"Little girl... What is the connection between you and Xin Long?" His voice, though calm, carried a weight that cut through the murmuring crowd. "How did it come to this — to a point where one had to unleash their internal force so violently that another lost his life?"

His question hung in the air, but before it could echo further, the girl by Xin Long's side turned her head.

Her expression was unnervingly serene, her eyes as clear as still water. With a calm and steady voice, she answered Abbot Kongshan — her words slicing through the tension like a blade.

"It has nothing to do with me, Abbot..." she replied, her tone unwavering. "But don't you think someone who disgracefully attacked an opponent who wasn't even fighting back deserves to die? You all saw what happened in the duel... If he hadn't recklessly charged in like that, he would've been killed by Xu Zhu Han's claw strike, filled with murderous intent..."

"As it stands, he was simply lucky—lucky that he had a treasured sword to defend himself... Otherwise, the one lying dead here wouldn't be Xu Zhu Han, but Xin Long instead... I'm sure even you can see that, Abbot..."

Afterward...

Abbot Kongshan exhaled slowly, turning away as he made his decision.

"Bai Hongfu..." he said, his voice steady. "Take this young lady and find a physician... Ensure Xin Long's injuries are treated properly... As for the rest of this matter, I will discuss it with Wudang Sect Leader and handle it accordingly..."

By hearing those words, Bai Hongfu realized that Master Kongshan had only spoken because he was unaware that Chu Cao was the daughter of the Silver Robe Divine Physician.

He nodded and then made his way toward Xin Long, who was still lying near Chu Cao, and knelt down beside him. He carefully moved the unconscious Xin Long from her arms. With a steady hand, Bai Hongfu channeled his internal force into Xin Long's body, stabilizing the chaotic flow of energy within him to ease the internal injuries.

The "Flaming Sparrow Rebirth" strike—Xin Long's final move—clearly contained layers of hidden techniques. Bai Hongfu couldn't shake the feeling that Xin Long held more secrets than he let on. Still, he focused on one thing: ensuring Xin Long's wounds didn't worsen.

Then, rising to his feet, Bai Hongfu called out firmly:

"Bai Luchan, Bai Luhan—come here and carry him... We're going to the Silent Serenity Apothecary..."

His two sons, who had been standing at the foot of the stage, anxiously watching their sister without daring to move, quickly responded to their father's command.

"Ye Yue, keep an eye on my daughter..."

The words were spoken calmly, but there was a subtle weight behind them. Bai Hongfu didn't turn his head as he gave the instruction, his focus still on Xin Long's injuries. Ye Yue, who had been watching the match from a short distance behind his daughter, gave a faint nod.

Of course, taking his daughter away wasn't an option. How could she leave now—abandoning her betrothed's lifeless body, following behind the very man who had killed him? Bai Hongfu was already bracing for the inevitable wave of gossip. He knew what would be said—that his daughter had chosen to stand by Xin Long, even over her fiancé's corpse.

But none of that mattered to him at this moment. The swirling questions around Xin Long's hidden strength weighed heavier on his mind than any scandal.

Just then, Bai Luchan and Bai Luhan arrived, following Chu Cao's lead. As Bai Hongfu glanced at his two sons, he caught a whisper from Chu Cao—direct and unyielding.

"Save the talking for later, Uncle... I'll take your daughter with me... Once things settle, you can follow..."

In the end, Bai Hongfu also concluded that Chu Cao's plan was the best, and with a single nod, he made his decision. Soon after, his gaze fell upon Chu Cao, who was taking the demonic sword from Xin Long's hand, which was tightly gripping it.

Currently, Chu Cao was carefully removing Xin Long's wrist from the sword's grip, taking the dark-colored sword and placing it in its sheath. She then took the demonic sword with her left hand and swiftly moved Xin Long, carrying him out of the courtyard and running quickly.

Within the courtyard, the remaining people, including the monks, watched silently as Chu Cao fled. Some people's eyes burned with greed and desire, ready to attack at any moment. However, with the presence of the Shaolin abbot and the Wudang Daoist Master, they were restrained.

Bai Hongfu quietly watched the scene unfold. His mind was filled with thoughts of the inevitable bloodshed that would soon follow in Jianghu. As he reflected on the chaos that loomed, he could not help but feel a sense of helplessness, as if the calm days of Jianghu would not last much longer.

As he thought about this, both the abbot and the Wudang master were also lost in their own reflections. Glancing at Chu Cao, Bai Hongfu sighed quietly, feeling the tension in the air and the weight of the looming conflict settling in.

Finally, the demonic dagger had returned to the Jianghu world once more, hadn't it?

End - 53