First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1596 - Mutual Benefit

Chapter 1596 - Mutual Benefit

The curtains had fallen on the grand battle, and heaven and earth returned to stillness.

The Liang clansmen were all ill at ease. They weren’t sure what would befall them next.

The guests dared not act recklessly either. They were afraid of causing any dangerous misunderstandings.

The atmosphere was instantly a bit stifled.

After Fang Yourong’s reminder, Liang Wenyu realized he’d lost his composure, and he was just about to express his gratitude when Su Yi shook his head. “After you’ve received my third wedding gift, I’m afraid you’ll find it difficult to thank me.”

Liang Wenyu was stunned.

Fang Han’s heart thudded in his chest. Don’t tell me Senior Su’s third gift will be even more unexpected than Liang Zhibei’s head?

Su Yi said softly, “Bring him out.”

“Understood!”

A solemn voice suddenly resounded from afar.

Then, beneath countless astonished gazes, a tall figure with the characteristic aura of an Immortal Lord shot toward them. He was thin, with withered, weather-worn features.

This was none other than Qi Fufeng!

When Su Yi first arrived in White Deer Mountain’s Ascension Ground, Qi Fufeng was there to watch over it.

Later, Qi Fufeng led the other new ascendants away on Su Yi’s orders, then went to the White Reed Province to investigate on Su Yi’s behalf.

The crowd was in uproar, and numerous hearts shook. An Immortal Lord was obeying Su Yi’s orders!

And he was currently holding someone aloft: Yu Ting! The old servant loyal to Liang Wenyu!

“Senior, what’s going on?” Fang Han was flabbergasted.

When Liang Wenyu saw Qi Fufeng lead Yu Ting over, his expression shifted; it seemed he’d realized something.

“What do you think of my gift?” Su Yi looked at him.

Liang Wenyu lowered his head and said bitterly, “I always knew this day would come sooner or later. It was sure to get out eventually...”

The crowd was baffled, but Fang Han seemed to realize something. He said in a quavering voice, “Senior, don’t tell me Big Brother Liang is a bad person?”

Su Yi took out a jug of wine. “Fufeng, you explain.”

“Yes!” Qi Fufeng tossed the unconscious Yu Ting onto the ground and said, “Three years ago, this person disguised himself as the Azureflame Daoist on Liang Wenyu’s orders and paid a fortune to acquire Miss Fang Yourong from human traffickers.

“Afterward, Liang Wenyu and his servant put on a show of ‘the hero saving the damsel in distress.’ Liang Wenyu smoothly ‘rescued’ Miss Fang Yourong.”

When Fang Han heard that, his expression shifted. “Why would he do such a thing?”

It seemed entirely unnecessary.

Qi Fufeng said, “Naturally, to make Miss Fang Yourong grateful to him. After all, this way, he ‘saved her life.’ Had he simply purchased her, she would surely have detested him. He could never have made her weep tears of gratitude then.”

Fang Han fell silent. Over the past few years, he’d been sold repeatedly. How could he not understand this?

Back in the Black Dragon Market, even after Su Yi rescued him, he wasn’t at all grateful. On the contrary, he was on guard; he assumed Su Yi had ulterior motives! Had Su Yi purchased him, he would never have trusted him.

Liang Wenyu just stood there, head lowered, his expression shifting erratically.

Fang Yourong stood beside him, silently clenching her fists and pursing her lips. She looked dazed and out of sorts.

Su Yi continued drinking. He said nothing at all.

Qi Fufeng continued, “Liang Wenyu used his status as Fang Yourong’s savior to win her heart. He originally planned to use her to give birth to a child with a Bi’an Spirit Race bloodline, then strip her of her Bi’an True Blood and refine it into medicine.”

A clamor of voices arose throughout the crowd. The way they looked at Liang Wenyu shifted dramatically.

Fang Han’s expression was incomparably unsightly.

“In truth, over the course of their three years together, Liang Wenyu tried to carry out his plans on numerous occasions, but in the end, he changed his mind.” Qi Fufeng said calmly, “But it isn’t that he discovered his conscience, but rather, that he had even bigger plans.”

Liang Wenyu let out a deep sigh.

Fang Yourong’s delicate figure quivered, but it was unclear whether this was due to shock or anger.

“What was he after?” Fang Han couldn’t help but ask.

Qi Fufeng said, “His first goal was to marry Fang Yourong in the Liang Family’s territory before the public. In doing so, he’d bring disaster into the Liang Family and avenge his parents.

“His second goal was to have a child with Bi’an True Blood. After all, he’s gravely ill and not long for this world. If he has a child, his legacy will live on.”

The Liang clansmen gnashed their teeth in fury. Qi Fufeng’s words proved that Family Head Liang Zhibei’s accusations had been right on the mark; Liang Wenyu really was marrying Fang Yourong to hurt the family!

Who in the White Reed Province didn’t know that the Bi’an Spirit Race had been annihilated overnight just ten years ago?

If this marriage went through, all Liang Wenyu needed to do was reveal his wife’s identity. That’d be sure to bring disaster upon his entire clan!

After all, if those behind the Bi’an Spirit Race’s annihilation found out about Fang Yourong, how could they possibly let her go? She was sure to implicate her in-laws, the Liang Family, too!

The thought made Fang Han’s hands and feet go numb. Liang Wenyu tricked my sister?

The siblings had been sold so many times over the years, they’d lost track. After overcoming all that adversity, they’d finally decided to trust someone. Who’d have thought he was nothing but a black-hearted schemer too?

For a moment, Fang Han was completely dumbstruck.

Xue Hongheng was wide-eyed and tongue-tied too. So, it turns out that Liang Wenyu is a no-good scumbag!

Meanwhile, one of the Liang Family higher-ups could no longer hold back. “Sir, you stuck out your neck for Liang Wenyu on account of Miss Fang. Why did you help him target our leader and grand elder despite knowing his wicked intentions?”

It was obvious that he was angry; his whole body was quivering with fury. The other Liang clansmen’s faces were incomparably unsightly too.

Su Yi said casually, “No matter what, he at least has feelings for Fang Yourong, and he did help her. Helping him get revenge is returning the favor.”

He paused, then said, “Now, it’s time for him to pay for his crimes.”

Qi Fufeng stared coldly at Liang Wenyu. “I have proof of everything I just said. Do you have anything to say in your defense?”

Liang Wenyu shook his head bitterly and sighed. “I...”

Before he could finish, Fang Yourong broke her silence. “Senior, actually, I knew all of that already.”

The crowd was flabbergasted.

Fang Han looked at her in disbelief. “Big Sister, if you knew, why...”

Fang Yourong had a complicated look on her face. “Big Brother Liang and I are fellow sufferers. He wants to avenge his parents, and I want to avenge my family. He had selfish intentions, but couldn’t you say the same of me?”

She sighed. “Over the past three years, Yu Ting repeatedly urged Big Brother Liang to act against me, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt me. He thought I didn’t know, but in truth, I’ve known this entire time. I just kept silent about it.”

Fang Yourong let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I really am a harbinger of disaster. Everyone I’ve encountered over the years has used me, so why not let Big Brother Liang use me too? Especially when he’s treated me with sincere kindness?”

Liang Wenyu was stunned. He said in a quavering voice, “Yourong, you... You...”

Fang Yourong silently squeezed his hand and said tenderly, “Big Brother Liang, let me finish.”

The rims of Liang Wenyu’s eyes reddened. He took a deep breath, then nodded.

Fang Yourong paused, as if rallying her courage, then looked at Su Yi. “Senior, over the past three years, I’ve been scheming too. I wanted to use Big Brother Liang to leave behind my Bi’an bloodline, and I wanted to use my identity to help him bring ruin to the Liang Family and avenge his parents!”

This declaration left everyone startled. Fang Han looked bewildered, and he felt as if his heart were tied up in knots. How is this possible?

Su Yi took a sip of wine and said nothing.

Fang Yourong continued, “But neither Liang Wenyu nor I realized how pathetic our petty schemes were in the eyes of an old-timer like Liang Zhibei. He saw through us before we even finished our wedding. Fortunately, you were here. Otherwise...”

Fang Yourong’s face filled with heartfelt gratitude. “Otherwise, I’m afraid we’d both be dead already.”

The atmosphere was stifled and silent on all sides.

Liang Wenyu’s knees thudded to the ground, and he lowered his head in penance. “Senior, over the past three years, I really have played far too many despicable tricks, and I’m ashamed of how I’ve treated Yourong. I won’t ask for your forgiveness, and I’m willing to pay for what I’ve done!”

But then, Fang Yourong knelt and lowered her head too. “I’m willing to bear punishment alongside him!”

The crowd fell silent. All eyes were on Su Yi.

Su Yi put away his jug of wine, raised his hand, and beckoned. The Auspicious Divine Bell landed in his palm.

“The sound of a bell marks a funeral and the end of a life, but bells can also serve as warnings,” Su Yi said softly. He then tossed the bell to Fang Yourong and Liang Wenyu. “This treasure is for you.”

The funeral bell saw Liang Yunhu and Liang Zhibei off to the next world. Liang Wenyu’s parents had been avenged.

The warning bell was for Liang Wenyu and Fang Yourong, making the long-suffering couple finally come clean to each other about their schemes.

These were Su Yi’s true intentions for giving this gift!

Had he really wanted to kill Liang Wenyu, he wouldn’t have needed to go to all this trouble, nor would he have needed to give him a chance to explain himself.

This was because he knew of Liang Wenyu’s unseemly, petty schemes, but he also knew that Liang Wenyu had treated her with kindness and sincerity. That was why he’d shown mercy, and why he’d helped him get revenge.

Liang Wenyu and Fang Yourong were stunned. When they realized that Su Yi wouldn’t pursue this any further, they were instantly overwrought. Their heads touched the floor, and they wept tears of gratitude.

“Quick, get up,” said Su Yi. He looked at Fang Han. “I brought you today to take this opportunity to open up your eyes, kid. I want you to understand how complicated and unfathomable the human heart is; there are no absolutely good or absolutely evil people in this world. I hope that what you’ve experienced today will change your mindset.”

Fang Han’s expression shifted erratically, and he sank into a lengthy silence, as if he were pondering something.

Xue Hongfeng had witnessed it all. He too felt as if his horizons had broadened, and he couldn’t help but sigh. So, everything that happened today was under Brother Su’s control this whole time. There was a deeper meaning behind everything he did!

Wondrous!

Truly wondrous!