Forgotten Tale of Jianghu-Chapter 54: Love and Compassion

The Silent Serenity Apothecary awaited—but danger was already closing in.

In the quiet dimness of the room, Chu Cao sat motionless, her gaze fixed on Xin Long's unconscious figure sprawled across the bed. His face, free of its usual calculating sharpness, seemed almost... innocent. The pain from his internal injuries had long since driven him into a state of deep unconsciousness, yet his stillness only made her heart ache more.

Pity... Understanding...

She felt them both—an unsettling, unfamiliar combination—as she stared at him. These feelings hadn't appeared out of nowhere. No, they had crept in the moment she first tried to transfer her internal force to ease his pain. It was the same moment the doubts she had harbored since watching the tournament began to solidify into an unshakable truth.

Perhaps that was why she pitied him.

A single tear slipped down her cheek. She didn't wipe it away.

It wasn't a tear born of love or longing—it was something deeper, heavier. A quiet agony. An ache for a man whose life, for whatever reason, had spiraled into this dark place.

"What kind of life led you here, Xin Long?"

The words were but a whisper, a confession meant only for herself. She knew he couldn't hear her. Even if he woke up, she would bury this moment, hide it behind a composed mask—just as she always did.

After a long silence, Chu Cao exhaled softly, her expression hardening once more.

She rose from the chair by the bed, smoothed her sleeves, and without a backward glance, stepped out of the room—leaving behind nothing but an empty chair and a secret never meant to be spoken.

The day had come to a close.

As the night deepened, Chu Cao stood alone on the veranda, her gaze drifting over the empty courtyard blanketed in a thin layer of freshly fallen snow. The silent descent of the snowflakes seemed to echo the whispers already spreading beyond Kunming City — rumors of Xu Zhu Han's brutal death, of Xin Long's involvement, and of the fearsome demon sword that had severed Xu Zhu Han's body cleanly in two. It wouldn't be long before every city, every tavern, and every martial sect spoke of nothing else.

The world was quick to ignite a flame when blood had been spilled.

Chu Cao let out a slow breath, watching it dissipate into the cold air. The distant sun, though hidden, still cast its faint light — a cruel reminder that even as the day ended, the world kept moving forward. Was the sun, she wondered bitterly, burning brighter just to match the ache twisting within her chest?

Her thoughts kept circling back to Xin Long.

The moment his wounds healed, what awaited him would not be peace — only the relentless pursuit of those drawn by greed. The demon sword had surfaced again, and where there was power, there would always be those willing to kill for it.

The weight of that realization pressed harder against her heart.

She lowered her head, snowflakes landing soundlessly in her hair.

Yes... Even in this quiet moment, the storm was already gathering. And for Xin Long... there would be no rest.

Chu Cao stood frozen in her thoughts, the intricate web of worries pulling her deeper with every silent moment. She hadn't realized how long she'd been lost in her mind until she caught a glimpse of Bai Hongfu approaching from the back gate of the Silent Serenity Apothecary, his steps steady as he moved toward the secluded manor.

Her lips twitched ever so slightly — not in a smile, but in a subtle, humorless acknowledgment of the inevitable.

Of course.

It could only be Bai Hongfu.

The reason for his sudden visit was obvious: the Flaming Sparrow Blade Technique. The same technique Xin Long had used — the Bai Family's martial pride, now tied to a deadly encounter. Bai Hongfu's curiosity, perhaps even suspicion, must be burning like a fire within him. How could he not come?

And yet...

A faint pang of sympathy slipped through her heart. Bai Hongfu was like a man offering a hilt to a thief, hoping the thief would return the blade. He sought answers, desperate to grasp the full truth, but Chu Cao knew one thing for certain — she would never betray what Xin Long had told her.

The truth was Xin Long's to bear. From the beginning, he had never hidden it.

So now, even as Bai Hongfu approached with his unspoken questions, Chu Cao simply watched, her face calm and steady — though a small, strange discomfort churned within her. Was this how Xin Long felt, bearing the weight of unspoken truths? Was his silence as heavy as this?

The thought startled her. She didn't like it.

As Bai Hongfu drew near, Chu Cao quickly composed herself, a faint smile curving her lips — polite, distant.

"Uncle Bai..." she greeted, her voice smooth, though her heart still wrestled with the unease within. "Are you alone?"

Chu Cao's question hung in the cold air — a simple inquiry on the surface, yet laced with layers of meaning. She had clearly seen Bai Hongfu arrive alone, but the words slipped from her lips like a reflex, a practiced way to steer the conversation forward.

A mere formality. A subtle hook.

Bai Hongfu's response was a soft sigh, his weathered face creased with a mix of concern and unease.

"Mm..." he muttered, his voice carrying the weight of rumors and whispers. "Not just Kunming City — other cities too... What happened at the competition... it's already spreading like wildfire... Hah... soon, the whole martial world will know... It's troubling, truly troubling..."

Chu Cao dipped her head, acknowledging his words — a silent agreement, yet withholding any deeper emotion.

Then, softly, she echoed a single word:

"I see..."

A simple response, but one that struck directly at the heart of the matter. The spreading rumors weren't just about the brutal death of Young Master Xu or the mysterious use of the Bai Family's Flaming Sparrow Blade Technique. No — they were about what followed: the greed, the vultures circling, waiting to seize whatever scraps of advantage they could find.

Without another word, Chu Cao stepped forward, leading Bai Hongfu into the manor. His unasked questions hung between them, but she didn't offer answers. Not yet.

Silence lingered, save for the soft shuffle of their footsteps down the dim corridor — until they reached the closed door where Xin Long lay, still unconscious.

She paused there, resting a hand lightly on the wooden frame. For a brief moment, her gaze softened, but it was gone in an instant.

"Come," she said quietly, opening the door.

Bai Hongfu's gaze lingered a moment too long, flickering from the unconscious Xin Long on the bed to Chu Cao standing at the doorway. The soft pink of her robes blended into the delicate decor of the room — a room he distinctly remembered being told belonged to her.

A subtle, almost imperceptible shift in his expression.

This wasn't just happenstance. The connection between Chu Cao and Xin Long wasn't as simple as it seemed. A man doesn't end up in a woman's chamber, half-dead, without some thread tying them together — a thread stronger than mere acquaintance.

With a quiet sigh, Bai Hongfu broke the silence.

"He still hasn't woken?"

The question felt like a pebble dropped into a still pond, ripples of implication spreading beneath the surface.

Even as he spoke, his mind churned. The Falling Hundred Leaves Formless Force — a technique so rare and deadly that few dared to utter its name — had been used to save Xin Long. A secret technique, hidden away like a sword kept sheathed, only drawn when absolutely necessary.

And it was Chu Cao who wielded it.

His suspicions coiled tighter. Was this truly just a matter of loyalty between allies — or was there something deeper, more personal, at play?

Yet, Chu Cao's focus never wavered. Her eyes never strayed from Xin Long's motionless form, as though the rest of the world had ceased to exist.

Bai Hongfu said nothing more.

But in the silence, his thoughts roared.

His jaw tightened — not in anger, but in that quiet, restrained way of a man piecing together a puzzle without all the corners aligned.

He had already confronted Bai Jing Jing the night before, demanding the truth about her connection to Xin Long. Her words still echoed in his mind — an admission that Xin Long harbored feelings for her. Bai Hongfu had accepted it, though with the reluctant weight of a father whose daughter stood at the edge of a delicate balance.

But now...

The way Chu Cao moved, the way her gaze clung to Xin Long's still figure — it wasn't casual concern. It wasn't the sympathy of a distant ally.

There was something deeper.

And Bai Hongfu, standing in his daughter's pink-adorned chamber, felt a gnawing sense of uncertainty. Was this a tangle of unspoken affections, a complicated web involving not only his daughter and Xin Long, but now Chu Cao as well?

His thoughts twisted, but his face remained stoic.

The soft sound of Chu Cao's voice broke the silence.

"Uncle Bai, he will regain consciousness soon..."

Her words were calm, too calm — like the surface of a still pond concealing an undercurrent.

She stepped closer to the bed, each movement unhurried, deliberate.

Bai Hongfu's gaze followed her — not at Chu Cao herself, but at the invisible thread he now sensed between her and Xin Long.

Something was brewing here.

And he intended to uncover exactly what it was.

Bai Hongfu froze mid-step. His muscles tensed instantly, as though his very bones recognized the threat before his mind could fully grasp it.

The words Chu Cao spoke rang sharp and clear:

"Stop, Uncle Bai... Around the bed—there's Falling Hundred Leaves Formless Poison mist, and powdered toxins scattered all over... They are colorless, odorless... Without an antidote, even breathing it in or brushing against the powder would be fatal..."

For a brief moment, his breath caught.

Formless Poison.

It wasn't a name spoken lightly in the martial world. Among all known toxins, it was one of the deadliest. Just a whiff of its mist or a speck of its powder—if not countered immediately—could paralyze the body and stop the heart within seconds. Death would follow in a quiet, merciless embrace.

He turned sharply, his gaze hard as steel as it fell upon Chu Cao. The unspoken question hung in the air—why was this poison here? Who had set such a trap in her own chamber?

But Chu Cao's face remained calm, her porcelain-like expression unshaken by the gravity of her words. Her pale, steady eyes met his.

"This is for my own protection..." she said evenly. "I set it up long before he arrived—it wasn't because of him..."

Bai Hongfu's frown deepened.

Her tone was smooth, almost too composed—like someone so familiar with danger that even lethal poisons were merely another layer of armor.

And in that moment, the pieces fell into place.

Now, he understood why Chu Cao had earned the trust of her father, the renowned Silver Robe Divine Physician Chu Wei Ran. She wasn't just skilled in Falling Hundred Leaves Formless Force—she was trained in the art of toxins and swords alike. The Formless Poison wasn't a reckless display of power—it was a silent guardian, surrounding her at all times.

No one could touch her—not without risking death.

Bai Hongfu's gaze flickered back to Xin Long's still figure on the bed, and his mind whirled.

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

The question wasn't whether Chu Cao could protect herself.

The question was—why did she still choose to keep Xin Long so close?

Bai Hongfu's thoughts swirled like a silent storm. The more he pieced together Chu Cao's actions, the clearer her intentions became. She wasn't just protecting herself — she was protecting Xin Long. The Formless Poison wasn't meant to ward off intruders; it was meant to keep everyone, including Bai Hongfu himself, from getting too close to Xin Long.

Even now, she hadn't bothered to offer him an antidote. It wasn't an oversight — it was deliberate. She didn't want him lingering any longer than necessary.

Her face remained as calm as ever, those clear, emotionless eyes watching him. Bai Hongfu could see the unspoken message behind them: Leave.

What could he do? Force his presence upon her? Demand answers she wasn't willing to give? That wasn't his way.

With a silent nod, he acknowledged her words, his voice steady but distant.

"Mm... Seems like this old man should take his leave then... When Xin Long regains consciousness, don't forget to send word... An old man like me is still curious about the true origins of someone who's mastered both the Bai Family's internal force and blade techniques..."

His words hung in the air like a thread—subtle yet pointed.

With a sharp turn, he stepped past Chu Cao, his gaze momentarily lingering on the still figure of Xin Long before he crossed the threshold and disappeared into the corridor.

He didn't press further. He didn't need to.

After all, the debts his family owed to Chu Wei Ran were not easily forgotten.

In truth, Bai Hongfu's assumption stemmed from a single moment—when he witnessed Xin Long seamlessly wield the Flaming Sparrow Blade Technique alongside an internal force that seemed to channel intense heat. It was only natural for him to suspect that Xin Long had also mastered the Flaming Sparrow Internal Force, given the striking similarity in their use of fiery energy.

It wasn't a foolish conclusion. After all, both techniques drew upon the manipulation of heat and power, and Xin Long's execution was so precise, so convincing, that it felt like more than mere coincidence.

End – 54