We entered and visited the temple. A gigantic statue stood in the center of the prayer hall. I felt a powerful magic in this place. There was a magic circle whose function was to suppress something, but I could not determine what! Jin GuangYao must have been hiding something relatively valuable here!

"Can it be suppressed?"

"Hardly."

We decided to return at nightfall. On the way out of the temple we heard a priest telling a worshipper that the temple would be closed for 3 days. You approached him and asked him the reason for the closure. He answered that the roof of the temple needed repair. We greeted him and let him go.

We went to meet Wen Ning at the inn. After dinner, the three of us went back to the temple. When we arrived at the big door, I felt the presence of a spiritual energy protecting it. Since we could not enter through the gate, we decided to climb the surrounding wall. You asked Wen Ning to keep a lookout and in case we didn't come out, to go and get Jiang Cheng.

I didn't know if it was a good idea to ask him to do that, knowing how the Jiang clan leader felt about the Ghost General. Even more so now that he had revealed the truth about his golden core. But you couldn't know that, my love!

We left Wen Ning at the door and went around the building. We found an accessible place and climbed onto the roof. From behind the statues of the temple, we observed what was going on in the courtyard.

Many "monks" were there, accompanied by guards from the Jin clan. They were armed with bows and swords.

Then I saw my brother enter. He looked well. He was carrying Shuoyue. The guards greeted him. What was he doing there? I was worried about him, but he seemed free to go wherever he wanted. He did not seem to be a prisoner. I didn't understand what was going on.

A dog's bark was heard, followed by Jin Ling's voice. What was he doing there? The guards in the courtyard had taken up firing positions and were aiming at the door, ready to shoot the first person who came through. The stupid kid started pounding on the door and shouting. Then there was silence. Then we heard the sounds of climbing on our right. This kid didn't know what to make up to get into trouble!

When he appeared at the top of the wall and looked up, he saw the guards aiming at him and shooting!

My love threw his flute in the direction of the arrows, and shouted at him to run away. The gunmen turned to us. Brother looked surprised to see us. My love threw talismans to blind the archers. We jumped off the roof. In the smoke, we did not see Jin GuangYao coming. I only saw him when he put a Qin rope around my love's neck!

I pointed Bichen in their direction.

"Han GuangJun, you better not try anything. He tightened the rope on your throat and blood flowed where it cut your skin.

I mustn't show my fear of losing you. He could use that weakness against me, against us! But as always when it came to you my feelings had to show.

I lowered my blade. The guards surrounded us.

"Wangji!"

"My brother!" he lowered his head.

"Shamefully, I was deceived. I fell into his trap and lost my spiritual power. Even with my Shuoyue and Liebing weapons, I can do nothing.

"Don't be ashamed, ZeWu Jun, he is Lin Fang Zun, he is a master in the art of deception!"

Jin GuangYao looked at you slyly. He wanted to know how we got there. You told him that he had a hidden title deed with Nie MingJue's head. He confessed his negligence in this matter.

"Lian Fang Zun, we are at your mercy, can you satisfy my curiosity? What treasure is hidden in the Guanyin Temple?"

At that moment two guards appeared holding Jin Ling. He was struggling. He looked surprised to find himself facing his uncle, or rather his uncles!

The monks apologized for not catching the dog. Jin GuangYao ordered them to find the dog and kill it. "Fairy" was a spiritual dog and therefore dangerous!

"Uncle Jin, "Fairy" is a gift from you, do you really intend to kill it?

"A-Ling what are you doing here?"

"Chief Jin Clan, A-Ling is a child, so is your nephew..."

"Second Brother, what are you thinking? What do you think I would do with him? Kill him?"

Brother looked at Jin Ling. Poor guy, he was beginning to understand that everything that had been told at Lotus Pier was the truth and that his "uncle" was capable of committing the irreparable towards him.

"A-Ling, if you run or scream, maybe I will do something terrible to you. It's up to you.

Taking advantage of a moment of inattention of his torturer, my soul mate signaled me to intervene. But Jin GuangYao used my love as a shield. Bichen stopped an inch away from your throat!

Jin GuangYao seemed to be having a lot of fun! He seemed to consider what was going on as a show that he was in charge of.

"At that time, you both attracted attention and had to cross swords. Isn't it the same today?

What was he talking about? Did he mean that at that time, he was the one who manipulated us and tried to turn us against each other?

"Han GuangJun, put Bichen down now, do you really want to kill Young Master Wei?"

He knew full well that I would never put his life in danger.

"Lan Zhan don't listen to him, I don't blame you. You go first to find reinforcements.

I nodded. I will stay here with you, my love. I will never leave you again. I promised myself that. No matter what happens I will stay with you, even if it means death!

"Put Bichen back in its sheath.

Again I obeyed. I didn't want to put your life in danger.

"Then afterwards, I want Han Guang-Jun to seal his spiritual power himself.

When he tightened the rope around your neck again, I realized that I had no choice... However, he had just given me an opening, but no one knew about it but me. So I sealed my power as he had asked me. What he didn't know was that it would only be for an hour! I thanked the destiny which had put on my way the newspaper of Lan Yi!

I saw the tears in your eyes, do not worry my love, I would like to reassure you but it was better that you ignore what I had just done. And then if you managed to live without power during several years, I would manage to survive one hour!

Suddenly there were thunderclaps. A storm was coming. Jin GuangYao took us inside the temple.

We sat down at the foot of the statue. Brother and Jin Ling were in front of Wei Ying and me. We could hear the pounding of the shovel behind it.

Jin GuangYao, joined us. He was standing in front of the statue when a gust of wind blew open the door and extinguished all the candles. When the "monks" closed the door, Jin GuangYao lit the candles again with a fire talisman.

Suddenly there was a knock. SuShe entered. He had Nie HuaiSang under his arm. The head of the Nie clan was unconscious. He threw him to the ground.

Brother looked at HuaiSang and Jin GuangYao. He looked overwhelmed.

"Why did you capture HuaiSang?" he asked.

"With another captive clan chief, the others will hesitate; but don't worry Second Brother, you know how I have always treated HuaiSang. When the time comes, I will definitely release you."?

"Should I believe you?"

"Do as you like. Whether you believe me or not, you have no choice anyway!".

I could see my brother's face breaking down. He was measuring the deceitfulness of the one he had always respected and considered his brother. He was also thinking about the conversation we had had at the Jingshi. He realized that the one who had lied was the one he thought he knew.

Jin GuangYao went back behind the statue. SuShe approached us. His smugness irritated my love. I did not envy SuShe.

"I can't believe we are meeting again, however the roles are reversed!"

"Reversed? At the Burial Ground it was you who ran away! And now aren't you and the Jin clan leader in a hurry to leave?" SuShe had a sneer.

"Under the current circumstances, Han GuangJun still holds his dignity calmly. I wonder how long he can stay like this!".

"Su Clan Chief, when you were a disciple of the Lan Clan, we never treated you unfairly. Why do you always pick on Wangji?" my brother asked.

I was asking myself the same question! I hardly remembered him when he was one of our disciples. What could I have done to him that made him hate me so much?

"How dare I target Second Master Lan who was born so talented! I can't stand his proud face!"

He hated me because he thought I felt superior! I was always doubting myself!

Uncle had left me no choice. He demanded perfection and taught me never to show what I was feeling. This probably explains why some people don't understand me.

What were you saying my love? You were saying to SuShe that he should be happy that he was not a disciple of Yunmeng, otherwise he would be angry with you!

It is true that you were a bit proud when you were younger! I remembered your boasts about your knowledge of monsters, your skills as a swordsman. You never hesitated to show them off. You were also an exceptional archer.

"Shut up!"

When SuShe raised her hand on you I stood in the way with Bichen!

"I advise you not to hurt us. Lian Fang Zun always respects ZeWu Jun. If you hurt Han GuangJun. Don't you think it will annoy Lian Fang Zun?".

"I didn't expect the Patriarch of Yiling to be afraid of death".

"You flatter me, I'm not afraid of death, I just don't feel like dying!"

"You're playing with words! Hilarious. Since you are not afraid of death. I'll grant your wish!"

SuShe drew her sword. The sound of fighting could be heard outside. SuShe rushed to the door and was struck by Zidian's long, violet strip of light.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)