Death… and me

"Yes, Chu Yang has specifically instructed me to inform that it didn't matter what reason you had for expelling him from Beyond the Heavens Sect. He is now officially no longer a member of Beyond the Heavens Sect." Wu Qian Qian continued reluctantly, "Hence when you calculate the strength of Beyond the Heaven Sect, you must… not include him in the strength. Otherwise, you will surely be bound to lose."

"Ahh." Wu Yun Liang sighed heavily. He could no longer tell what he was exactly feeling at that moment.

"Chu Yang also mentioned…" Wu Qian Qian slowly lowered her head as she said.

"What else did he say?" Wu Yun Liang frowned in anticipation of what Wu Qian Qian had to say.

"He said that… if you still wish for me to remain at Bu Tian Pavilion, it would be best if you expel me from Beyond the Heavens Sect!" Wu Qian Qian bit her lip and said painfully, "That way, you can truly… guarantee Beyond the Heaven's escape."

Once again, Wu Yun Liang sighed heavily.

He was at a complete loss for words. Before arriving at this place, such a possible scenario did occur to him. Nonetheless, the situation had progressed in such great accordance to what he had envisioned that he simply began lying to himself.

He thought that everything that he wanted to achieve could be done.

Initially, his intention was to seek a way to survive somewhere in a crack between Great Zhao and Iron Cloud; allowing them to struggle for a living under the bullying of all the major sects. However, his fight for survival had now been too successful. Even before they could reach the end of the line, his initial intention had been achieved.

Hence, he had become a little too demanding. If the royal court and Jiang Hu prospered together by helping one another, wouldn't Beyond the Heavens Sect become the number one sect within just a short span of a few years?

However, at this juncture, he had just received a harsh blow from reality!

"Eldest martial brother, you should not overlook the fact that Beyond the Heavens Sect belongs to Jiang Hu." Meng Chao Ran's words resounded in his mind as he fell into a deep thought, "If you want Beyond the Heavens Sect to join the royal court, the only possible outcome is for the sect to be wiped out, with only a few people remaining!"

"The royal court is the royal court, Jiang Hu is Jiang Hu, and a sect is a sect. They cannot exist together. In the same way, they cannot join one another. Even the clans and sects in Jiang Hu are completely different entities, let alone Jiang Hu and the royal court."

"Alright!" In just mere moments, Wu Yun Liang's appearance appeared to have aged by a few years. He turned away and said, "In that case, I shall do as you wish. You are hereby expelled from Beyond the Heavens Sect."

Wu Qian Qian took in a deep breath. After being shaken for a while, she suddenly felt a wave of hopelessness and sadness.

The truth was that Chu Yang never said that he was no longer a member of Beyond the Heavens Sect. Furthermore, he never once mentioned that Wu Yun Liang had to expel Wu Qian Qian from the sect.

These were all Wu Qian Qian's own words.

When she made this decision earlier on, Wu Qian Qian was absolutely certain that she was going to sacrifice her youth and her life to… put on the black robe that represented and identified her as King of Hell Chu!

Wu Qian Qian thought to herself solemnly, "Perhaps your legend will not be made here. Perhaps you will not be here in the future. Perhaps I will not be a part of your future, but I'm willing to stay here in your place and guard this place to the best of my ability. I will create a legend for you. So long as the black robe is here, King of Hell Chu is here; you will always be here."

"You know how I feel towards you, but you cannot reciprocate. I've never said it out loud because of my own pride! Even though I'm just a Jiang Hu girl and far lacking in accomplishments when compared to you, I still have my own pride and the modesty of a woman! So… I did not say a word because I did not want to receive an outright rejection. Besides, I did not want to make it difficult for you in any way. However, being here, even with all the heartache and against all odds… I am willing to keep these feelings of mine guarded deep within my heart and never tell anyone."

Wu Qian Qian thought to herself quietly. In just a few short moments of silence, she had just made a promise to remain determined and steadfast for the rest of her life.

Wu Yun Liang could not help but sigh deeply. Although he had no idea what had just happened, he could sense that during that moment of silence, his beautiful daughter was evidently suppressing a broken heart.

"I will take my leave now."

Wu Qian Qian turned around and put on a loose-fitting black robe that covered her slender body. She looked up and walked out of the room. At that moment, be it her movement or the air surrounding her, Wu Qian Qian was carrying herself in a manner that was nowhere less awe-inspiring than how King of Hell Chu carried himself! It was a kind of cold and heartless aura!

However, no one knew that a shattered heart was hidden behind the cloak that sparked terror…

Meanwhile, the martial experts of Tie Bu Tian had appeared outside. They surrounded King of Hell Chu, the terror of Iron Cloud, and left in a protective formation around him.

"Eldest martial brother." Kong Jing Feng walked out from behind a screen, "Qian Qian has really become mature."

"Yes, she's indeed matured." Wu Yun Liang sighed and continued, "So mature that a father like myself was unable to recognize her one bit."

When Wu Qian Qian returned to Bu Tian Pavilion, Tie Bu Tian was already waiting in the office.

"Your Majesty? Why are you here at such an unearthly hour?" Wu Qian Qian asked in surprise.

"I can't fall asleep. There's something that I wish to discuss with you." Tie Bu Tian let out a sigh. His brows were unable to conceal his great distress.

"What's happened?" Wu Qian Qian immediately became alert. She knew that if Tie Bu Tian's countenance was this distressed, it was definitely no ordinary matter.

"Bu Tian Pavilion will have to be mobilized, expending all efforts to make a big move. Also, you, King of Hell Chu, will have to make a few more appearances." Tie Bu Tian said gravely.

"Hmm, did he get into trouble at Great Zhao?" Wu Qian Qian said, "Diwu Qing Rou is not that easy to deal with after all."

"Yes. Minister Chu was successful in causing chaos at Continent Center! But… in doing so, he also gave Diwu Qing Rou an opportunity to retaliate. The most important thing that we have to do right now is to prove that King of Hell Chu is still in Iron Cloud." Tie Bu Tian gazed at the black robe that Wu Qian Qian had on her body.

"King of Hell Chu is still in Iron Cloud; he never left!" Wu Qian Qian replied assertively, "As for the Bu Tian Pavilion's mobilization, the intelligence should have reached me first. How did it get to Your Majesty? This… Chen Yu Tong must have failed at his duties!"

Under Wu Qian Qian's gaze, Tie Bu Tian felt awkward in the rarest of moments. He tried to maintain a serious face as he coughed dryly a few times before saying, "That's because I've ordered hall leader Chen to come to me first with any news about Great Zhao!"

"But… that's not consistent with how things are done in our Bu Tian Pavilion!" Wu Qian Qian replied bluntly, "I request for Your Majesty to withdraw this procedure!"

Tie Bu Tian's mouth gaped as he looked at her for a long period of time. Finally, with a conflicted look on his face, he said, "Okay."

"As for Bu Tian Pavilion's big move, I will arrange for it tonight." Wu Qian Qian said casually, "If there's nothing else, please go back and rest, Your Majesty."

This was the authority that Chu Yang had left for Bu Tian Pavilion. She could not simply allow whatever he had left to be lost right now. This was precisely why Wu Qian Qian had displayed such a firm stance towards Tie Bu Tian. There was not to be even one compromise! Even if it was with… the emperor!

This was Wu Qian Qian's greatest pride!

However, this firm stance of hers suddenly gave Tie Bu Tian a conflicted feeling in his heart.

Tie Bu Tian looked at the fierce mask on Wu Qian Qian's face in great amazement. Subsequently, he looked down at the black robe on her body with a strange gaze. It appeared as if there was a feeling of longing and reminiscing, as if…

Wu Qian Qian was startled. As she looked at Tie Bu Tian's gaze, she could not help but let her mind run wild.

She thought of how this emperor still did not have a queen or any concubine. She could not help but feel guarded towards him. Could it be that he has feelings for me?

Slowly, Wu Qian Qian took two steps back and said coldly, "Your Majesty, this is Bu Tian Pavilion. Please… be mindful!"

Upon hearing this, Tie Bu Tian panicked immediately. He began coughing endlessly. A look of shame appeared on his face. Along with it carried a hint of astonishment.

Intentions towards you? How is that possible?

"In that case, cough, cough… I will leave now!"

"Take care of yourself, Your Majesty."

Watching Tie Bu Tian leave with the protection of the shadow guards, Wu Qian Qian's face became sad instantly. Chu Yang, you bastard! You've left me here. If the emperor… Hmm, if that's the case, I would rather die than let him have what he wants.

Because of you, my heart is buried deep!

Slowly, Wu Qian Qian's puzzled look regained its original composure. Her gaze became icy cold as she swung her arm and yelled out in a deep voice, "Order hall leader Chen to come here!"

Within moments, Chen Yu Tong appeared outside of King of Hell Chu's room. It was as if he had traveled at the speed of light.

Just as he was about to knock on the door, it opened abruptly. King of Hell Chu, in his black robe and mask, had appeared like a ghost.

"Hall leader Chen! Your courage has grown these days!" King of Hell Chu said in a cynical tone. Chen Yu Tong was so scared witless that his soul nearly left his body.

"This subordinate does not dare!"

"Haha, you dare not? Is there anything that hall leader Chen does not dare to do?" Wu Qian Qian laughed evilly, "Before I could even see our own Bu Tian Pavilion's intelligence, the emperor had already seen it."

Immediately, Chen Yu Tong dropped down onto his knees, "Minister, this… this was His Majesty's secret order! I… I didn't dare to go against it!"

"I don't care about whatever predicament that you had to face!" Wu Qian Qian had become slightly heartless as she continued, "You have to take responsibility for this action of yours! Hall leader Chen, do you think the people of Heavenly Secret Hall should be punished? Or… should you receive the punishment by yourself?"

"I volunteer to receive the punishment by myself!" Chen Yu Tong's entire body was trembling.

Minister Chu's actions were becoming harder to predict as the days went by. If Heavenly Secret Hall was going to be punished, everyone would know that it was because of him. He had already gone through that once before; if it happened again… he would most likely lose his position soon.

"Two hundred paddles!" Wu Qian Qian said scornfully, "Go and order for the punishment on your own. If you are short of one paddle, you can go ahead and quit your job!"

"Get out!" Wu Qian Qian bellowed, "If something like that happens ever again, you had better hold on tightly to your head!"

Hearing this, Chen Yu Tong fled in deep fear.

Guards that were situated in all four directions were now as silent as clams.

Wu Qian Qian remained silent for a moment before she ordered, "Give my order for hall leader Cheng to prepare for movement!"

"Yes!"

While no one was noticing, this weak girl, Wu Qian Qian, had matured slowly but surely. However, behind that process of maturing, there was a shattered dream and a heavily broken heart…