Chapter 288: Meaningless Smile

Sǐmìng knelt on the ground, her knees together. Her hands, clasped to her shoulders, were tense, revealing the delicate prominence of her knuckles. Silvery strands of hair clung to her porcelain-white cheek, and a fleeting, cunning smile touched her lips. She lifted her eyes, gazing pitifully at Níng Chángjiǔ, her expression one of struggle, as if she were enduring something, her gritted teeth suggesting words she couldn't utter.

Lù Jiàjià was surprised by Xuě Cí's sudden display.

Níng Chángjiǔ quickly bent down and asked, "Miss Xuě Cí, are you alright? Did Qiū Yuè play a dirty trick earlier?"

His back was to Lù Jiàjià, and his words were full of concern. But his eyes, fixed on Sǐmìng, were like sharp knives, full of menace, seeming to say, "If you dare to pretend any longer, I won't let you off."

Sǐmìng felt emboldened. She thought, "Lù Jiàjià is right behind you; you might have ill intentions, but you wouldn't dare act on them!"

"Oh..." Sǐmìng's hands, still clasped to her shoulders, slowly slid down to her chest. Her fingers dug deep into her dark robe, and her slender back gradually hunched. Her silver hair fell over her face, making her appear to be in extreme pain.

Lù Jiàjià anxiously leaned down and said, "Sister Xuě Cí, what's wrong?"

Sǐmìng wondered why the naive girl still hadn't caught on. She had no choice but to intensify her act, raising her head to look at Níng Chángjiǔ, feigning disorientation, "Mas... mas..."

Níng Chángjiǔ quickly pressed her hand, interrupting her. "Save your blessings for later. This is a spiritual world; you won't die. Don't worry, I'll heal you later."

Sǐmìng gently shook her head. "Spare... me..."

Níng Chángjiǔ cut off the "me" syllable, interrupting her. "Yes, after all these twists and turns, you still fell victim to Qiū Yuè's scheme. I failed to protect you well, and I've let both you and Jiàjià down. Don't worry, I'll open the Luo River Map right now and find a way to help you!"

Níng Chángjiǔ's words were gentle, but the menace in his eyes intensified. He thought to himself, "Ever since I placed the slave mark, I've upheld my duty as a gentleman and never done anything out of line to you. Can't you just behave yourself?"

Lù Jiàjià, listening to their exchange, grew slightly suspicious. She asked, "What exactly is going on?"

Níng Chángjiǔ stood up, his words rushed. "Miss Xuě Cí has been afflicted by Qiū Yuè's All-Phenomena Sin and Punishment: Soul-Loss and Self-Forgetfulness technique. I happen to know how to dispel this technique, but it requires a few medicinal herbs as an auxiliary. Coincidentally, when I arrived earlier, I saw some rock ganoderma behind that mountain. Jiàjià, please help me gather a few stalks, and I'll stabilize Elder Xuě Cí's mind first."

"Alright!" Seeing Sǐmìng in pain and hearing her husband's seemingly sincere, anxious words, Lù Jiàjià didn't doubt him. She was about to rise and summon her sword.

Sǐmìng knew that if Lù Jiàjià left now, the consequences would be unimaginable. In this spiritual world, she might not be a match for Níng Chángjiǔ, who possessed an Asura. What's more, he could control the slave mark...

"Wait!" Sǐmìng said with a trembling voice.

Lù Jiàjià paused her steps slightly.

Níng Chángjiǔ quickly warned, "We can't wait any longer. Your injuries are critical!"

Sǐmìng looked at his eyes. His gaze had changed from menacing to yielding.

But Sǐmìng would not let him off easily.

Earlier, she had asked Lù Jiàjià about Níng Chángjiǔ's words and feelings after returning from the abyss. Lù Jiàjià had roughly told her then. Sǐmìng feigned ignorance, but in reality, she harbored resentment. "Hmph, a blue face with fangs? When he said that, did he ever think about today?"

Sǐmìng's eyes gleamed darkly. She had already decided to make him pay for his words.

Sǐmìng looked at him and asked, "Will you help me heal this injury?"

Níng Chángjiǔ wasn't foolish. He knew she was implicitly asking if he would remove the slave mark.

When he had emerged from the tribulation, he had already considered removing Sǐmìng's slave mark. Now, it was a convenient opportunity that could also save his own skin, so he naturally had no objections.

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "Believe me, you protected Jiàjià throughout the journey, and you also helped me suppress and kill the Luo River Map spirit. I will definitely heal your injuries."

Lù Jiàjià watched their continuous eye contact. Although she knew it was an urgent matter requiring swift action, she felt uneasy. She thought, "How long have you two even known each other? How could it be... Could Níng Chángjiǔ really be lusting after Sister Xuě Cí's beauty?"

Their conversation was also very strange.

For a moment, Lù Jiàjià didn't know what to do.

Níng Chángjiǔ saw Lù Jiàjià standing motionless. He knew he couldn't let her be idle, as people tend to start thinking once they're idle...

He couldn't give Lù Jiàjià time to think.

"Jiàjià, what are you standing there for? Go gather the rock ganoderma first," Níng Chángjiǔ said.

Sǐmìng pursed her lips, her slender legs trembling continuously, as if she were enduring something. She lifted her head, looked at Lù Jiàjià, and gently shook her head. "I'm fine, don't... don't worry."

While Lù Jiàjià wasn't demonically intelligent, she was certainly no fool.

She didn't move, her gaze sweeping over both of them. It lingered between Sǐmìng's snow-white, jade-like legs, which were hidden by her dark robe.

Finally, she looked at Níng Chángjiǔ and said, "Are you... hiding something from me?"

Níng Chángjiǔ's heart tightened, but having started, he might as well go all the way. He said without changing his expression, "Jiàjià, don't overthink things. The divine war in the heavens is almost over, the Saint and the Thunder Prison are fighting for victory, the Luo River Map world's end is approaching, Qiū Yuè has been forced back to her true form, the towering peaks are about to collapse, most of the ascended cultivators of the five paths are dead, Lǐ Hè, who was with me, has also been killed by me, and a woman named Mù Língtóng is still plotting outside... So don't worry too much. I'll heal Miss Xuě Cí, and then we'll leave the Luo River Map together!"

Níng Chángjiǔ poured out a flood of seemingly related but actually illogical information, attempting to confuse Lù Jiàjià.

Lù Jiàjià listened to his incoherent words and was indeed confused for a short time.

But a wife knows her husband best.

She looked into his eyes and finally acutely caught something. "Are you scared?"

Níng Chángjiǔ looked up at the sky and sighed. "Of course I'm scared. The end is near, and the sky is about to fall... But this happened five hundred years ago; it's fated."

Sǐmìng listened to his words, feeling admiration in her heart.

"Could such a situation really let you get away with it?"

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "Never mind, Jiàjià, you must be tired too. I'll take Elder Xuě Cí. You go and rest well."

Sǐmìng absolutely couldn't let him be alone with her. Her lips slightly parted, and she suddenly said, "I seem to be feeling a bit better, actually. Thank you... you."

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "No, you're not better. I'm very familiar with the symptoms of this curse; it will recur."

Lù Jiàjià had given up on trying to understand their conversation. She kept feeling like she had forgotten something.

"Fated..."

"It is fate..."

"Is it fate... Sǐmìng?"

"Oh right, what was Sǐmìng's identity again?"

Lù Jiàjià grasped the key point.

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up. Her gaze was sharp, and her snow-like figure appeared even more distinct. She enunciated each word slowly. "Níng! Cháng! Jiǔ!"

"Jiàjià?"

Níng Chángjiǔ slowly turned his head, looking at her exquisitely beautiful face. Her autumn-water-like eyes narrowed slightly, and a flicker of lightning seemed to pass through her clear pupils. Her white robe fluttered.

At this moment, Níng Chángjiǔ had a strange illusion.

He seemed to have returned to many years ago. At that time, Lù Jiàjià was still his master. She stood in the Sword Hall, light pouring in from outside the wooden lattice window, passing through heavy curtains, falling on her clothes and blurring her white robes. Her expression was cool and aloof, one hand behind her back, the other holding the hall's disciplinary ruler, as she lectured on sword scriptures before a black gauze screen.

Lù Jiàjià said, "Sǐmìng? Sister Sǐmìng? What did you call Xuě Cí earlier?"

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "You misheard. I said... she... is a famous sister!"

Lù Jiàjià instantly understood many things. She sneered, "You still want to lie to me?"

Sǐmìng breathed a sigh of relief. She thought, "My naive sister, has your stubborn mind finally understood?"

Níng Chángjiǔ, still stubbornly denying it, said, "What did I lie to you about?"

Lù Jiàjià narrowed her eyes and said, "Are you still unwilling to be honest with me?"

Níng Chángjiǔ pressed his lips together. Lù Jiàjià's gaze created immense pressure. He was engaged in an internal struggle, making his final stand.

"Confess what?" Níng Chángjiǔ gave a dry chuckle.

Lù Jiàjià stared at Níng Chángjiǔ, the coldness in her eyes intensifying.

"Sǐmìng..." Lù Jiàjià uttered the name. The connections in her mind gradually became clear. She tremblingly extended her hand, pointing at Xuě Cí's exquisitely beautiful, captivating face. "You called her Sister Sǐmìng?"

"You misheard..." Níng Chángjiǔ's defense was weak.

Lù Jiàjià didn't hear him. "So this is the... blue-faced, fanged Sǐmìng you spoke of?"

Níng Chángjiǔ closed his eyes. He had long suspected that his secret would be exposed one day, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

Sǐmìng added fuel to the fire. "Sister Jiàjià... I, I didn't mean to keep it from you."

Lù Jiàjià said, "I know, Sister Xuě Cí has her reasons. I don't blame you."

"Then I..." Níng Chángjiǔ raised his head, looking at Lù Jiàjià, wanting to offer an explanation. But he saw that Lù Jiàjià was already crying.

Níng Chángjiǔ was puzzled. He thought, "Even though I lied, it shouldn't warrant such an emotional reaction, right?"

"Jiàjià... what's wrong?"

He quickly stood up, pinching a corner of his sleeve, intending to wipe away her tears.

Lù Jiàjià, however, swatted his hand away and angrily said, "Níng Chángjiǔ! I never thought you'd be this kind of person!"

"Jiàjià, listen to me explain..." Níng Chángjiǔ said gently.

Lù Jiàjià bit her pearly teeth tightly and gave him one last chance. "Alright, explain yourself."

Níng Chángjiǔ took a deep breath. He stared into Lù Jiàjiǔ's eyes and said earnestly, "When I first reunited with you, I lied about this only because I was afraid you'd overthink or misunderstand. You know my feelings for you..."

Lù Jiàjià was silent for a moment, then said disappointedly, "At a time like this, are you still trying to avoid the main point? Don't you know what you've done?"

"Huh?" Níng Chángjiǔ said. "...Is there some misunderstanding between us?"

"Misunderstanding?" Lù Jiàjià's sculpted shoulders trembled continuously. She stared at Níng Chángjiǔ, tears streaming down her face. "When you were in Duanjie City, you met her. If you had already sworn an oath with Sister Xuě Cí to love only her, then why did you still come to see me after you came out? Or are you just ruthlessly playing with her feelings?"

"???" Níng Chángjiǔ looked at Sǐmìng, his gaze like a knife.

Lù Jiàjià continued. "You were ungrateful to Sister Xuě Cí, not only secretly harming her but even trying to train her as a slave! Heh... The younger sister Sister Xuě Cí mentioned, that was Shào Xiǎolí, wasn't it? The tiny, skinny girl you said was only five or six years old?"

"Shào Xiǎolí... that little girl is only thirteen or fourteen, and you could do that to her? Not only could you do it, but you also abandoned her after seducing her..." Lù Jiàjià's words became increasingly incoherent. She bit her lip, and a little blood seeped from under her pearly teeth.

Níng Chángjiǔ was speechless for a moment, not knowing where to begin his defense.

Lù Jiàjià looked at him, assuming he had no reason to refute. Her eyes grew sadder, and she delivered the final verdict on his character. "You ungrateful, unforgivable, heinous, heartless man!"

As she spoke, she raised her hand, her slender, jade-like fingers paused before Níng Chángjiǔ's cheek. The image of him protecting her with his Asura body suddenly appeared in her mind. Her heart softened again, and she tremblingly withdrew her hand. Conflicting emotions tangled and brewed, then burst forth bitterly in her chest.

Earlier, when Lù Jiàjià heard Xuě Cí speak of the 'master,' she felt indignant. She secretly praised her husband's virtues.

Just now, hearing Níng Chángjiǔ say that Elder Xuě Cí might not be from the Luo River Map, she felt joy, thinking it would be the happiest thing in the world if both her husband and sister could return safely.

Now they had both returned.

Lù Jiàjià looked at Níng Chángjiǔ's pale face, but it felt so unfamiliar.

Níng Chángjiǔ grabbed her retracting hand and said sincerely, "Jiàjià, there's a misunderstanding between us. Will you please let me explain slowly?"

Lù Jiàjià looked at him through tear-filled, shimmering eyes. Her fair, white arm struggled to break free. Past events surfaced in her mind, making her feel dizzy.

Sǐmìng thought, "If you explain everything clearly, won't I be the one in trouble?"

She wouldn't give Níng Chángjiǔ this chance. She quickly interjected, "Sister Jiàjià, I also didn't expect... it would be such a coincidence."

Lù Jiàjià looked at the woman who treated her like her own. Her face wavered in Lù Jiàjià's teary eyes.

"Mhm." Lù Jiàjià responded.

Sǐmìng looked at Níng Chángjiǔ, bowed slightly, and softly called out, "Master."

Níng Chángjiǔ thought, "Why are you adding fuel to the fire now?"

Níng Chángjiǔ didn't give Sǐmìng a chance to continue speaking. He held Lù Jiàjià's arm and said earnestly, "Jiàjià, you absolutely must not believe her one-sided story! She's saying this because she resents me."

Hearing this, Lù Jiàjià grew even angrier. "Resent you? If you hadn't done so many ungrateful things, why would she resent you?"

Lù Jiàjià immediately remembered the earlier scene and suddenly realized, "You let it slip earlier. Were you afraid Sister Xuě Cí would keep talking, so you suppressed her with the slave mark? No wonder... no wonder she suddenly collapsed just now."

Lù Jiàjià looked at Sǐmìng.

Sǐmìng lowered her head, her eyes slightly raised towards Níng Chángjiǔ. She seemed a little afraid, hesitating to speak.

Seeing the usually strong Sister Xuě Cí display such an expression, Lù Jiàjià felt even more heartbroken. She found it hard to imagine how Níng Chángjiǔ must have tormented and treated her in the past, and how much trauma and shadow he had left her with...

"How much... have you actually hidden from me?" Lù Jiàjià tilted her head slightly, her expression haggard as she looked at Níng Chángjiǔ.

Níng Chángjiǔ clasped both her hands, pressing them to his chest, and said earnestly, "Jiàjià, please calm down first. You must have noticed that my account and Sǐmìng's account differ greatly. Why are you unwilling to believe me?"

Lù Jiàjià said, "I do believe you, but... a blue face with fangs? Heh, you point at a woman like this and say she has a blue face and fangs. How do you expect me to believe you?"

Níng Chángjiǔ, facing the consequences of his actions, tried to sort out his chaotic thoughts. Lù Jiàjià's tear-filled eyes pained him immensely. At that moment, he wished he could turn around and give that wicked woman who dared to fan the flames a good beating. But with Lù Jiàjià in front of him, how could he dare to act recklessly?

"A blue face with fangs?" Sǐmìng caressed her cheek and spoke blandly. "Master, am I really that repulsive in your heart?"

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "You shut up first!"

Sǐmìng closed her small, cherry-red mouth. Then, she let out a soft cry, knelt on the ground again, wrung her hands tightly, and trembled with bent legs.

Níng Chángjiǔ, looking at the frail and weak Sǐmìng kneeling on the ground, was close to breaking point.

"Is this what happens when you offend a wicked woman?"

Níng Chángjiǔ had never imagined he would suffer such retribution.

"Jiàjià... if I say I didn't do anything, will you believe me?" Níng Chángjiǔ said weakly.

Lù Jiàjià looked at him and laughed angrily. "What do you think?"

Sǐmìng was still moaning in pain.

Lù Jiàjià frowned tightly and sternly said, "What are you still doing? Aren't you going to let Sister Xuě Cí go?"

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "Jiàjià, I truly didn't do anything."

Lù Jiàjià said, "Don't call me Jiàjià."

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "Then what should I call you?"

Lù Jiàjià said coldly, "In broad daylight, when we're out, you're supposed to call me Master? Have you forgotten the rules?"

As Lù Jiàjià spoke, she struggled with her wrist, trying to break free from Níng Chángjiǔ's grasp.

Níng Chángjiǔ, fearing she might fly away on her sword immediately, dared not release his grip. His mind raced, and he finally seized upon a blind spot. "Jiàjià! You've been deceived!"

"Don't call me Jiàjià!"

"Alright, Master, you've been deceived."

"I have been deceived, and you're the biggest liar of all!"

"No..." Níng Chángjiǔ said. "Sǐmìng is lying to you!"

Lù Jiàjià looked at the trembling, mournful woman on the ground, pity filling her eyes. "Are you trying to turn the tables now?"

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "Master, wait a moment. Think carefully: when did you tell Sǐmìng your name?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Lù Jiàjià said.

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "Think about it: before and after you told her your name, did her attitude towards you change significantly?"

Lù Jiàjià's mind was a mess. Following Níng Chángjiǔ's words, she thought for a while and vaguely felt there might indeed be a difference.

"So what?" Lù Jiàjià said coldly.

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "She knew your identity beforehand but deliberately hid it from you. So, all her subsequent words were fabricated based on that premise. She was intentionally setting a trap... Think back carefully, isn't that right?"

Lù Jiàjià calmed down a bit. She vaguely felt that Níng Chángjiǔ had a point.

"Sister Xuě Cí's attitude towards me really seemed to change quite a lot..."

"But how could Elder possibly lie to me?" Lù Jiàjià said. "Even after knowing my identity, Elder still saved me several times and taught me all her techniques."

Sǐmìng nodded in agreement. She thought, "I really didn't waste my affection on this naive sister."

Níng Chángjiǔ, however, had already cleared his thoughts. "Exactly! This is also one of the suspicious points."

"What?" Lù Jiàjià was confused. She thought, "Are you going to use your smooth tongue to twist black into white again? I'm not that foolish girl you can just trick anymore!"

Níng Chángjiǔ said, "If I truly were as ungrateful and treacherous as she claims, and had done something to her sister, who is only fourteen... wouldn't she hate me to the core, and why would she treat my wife well?"

Sǐmìng was slightly startled by this and quickly tried to remedy the situation. "I was good to Jiàjià because she saved my life, and I genuinely like good girls like her. What does that have to do with you?"

Lù Jiàjià frowned. She felt that both of them made sense, and her mind was struggling to process it all.

"Treat well... Hmm, Sister Xuě Cí did hit me before," Lù Jiàjià said uncertainly, weakly refuting Níng Chángjiǔ.

Níng Chángjiǔ was startled, looking sharply at Sǐmìng, and said angrily, "I can't even bring myself to hit Jiàjià, and you actually..."

Lù Jiàjià retorted defiantly, "How can you say you can't bring yourself to hit me? You clearly..."

Níng Chángjiǔ defended himself, "That was..."

"What was that? Forging a sword? Even that little girl Xiǎolíng wouldn't fall for that excuse!" Lù Jiàjià said angrily.

Níng Chángjiǔ fell silent again.

Lù Jiàjià took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling. "Do you have anything else to say?"

Níng Chángjiǔ knew that his credibility had hit rock bottom. He had to find the biggest, most immediately provable flaw in Sǐmìng's words. But Sǐmìng, intent on causing trouble for him at home, remained tight-lipped. Where could he find evidence?

"Alas... a blue face with fangs... It's truly a case of 'what goes around comes around.' If only I had been honest then, Sǐmìng wouldn't have had this opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

He glanced at Sǐmìng.

The silver-haired, dark-robed divine official trembled slightly, looking pitiful. Yet her icy eyes held a mocking smile, as if taunting him for being unable to resolve the situation.

Seeing him remain silent, Lù Jiàjià's eyelids also lowered. She stopped struggling, her snow-white sleeves fluttering like lonely clouds in the wind.

"I never doubted your love for me," Lù Jiàjià said softly. "But I hope that your claim of being a gentleman isn't just empty words."

She raised her head, her slightly reddened eyes tinged with faint bloodshot lines.

Níng Chángjiǔ quietly looked at her. At this moment, not only could he not convince her, but he was also starting to struggle to convince himself...

He too began to doubt his own character.

"Dad... Daddy!"

Suddenly, a voice echoed in their ears.

From the Luo River Map, which Níng Chángjiǔ had carelessly tossed beside his foot, a tender hand reached out.

"Qiū Yuè?" Lù Jiàjià immediately drew her sword.

Sǐmìng also scrambled up from the ground, drawing her black sword as if facing a formidable enemy.

Níng Chángjiǔ stared at the Luo River Map, an Asura already forming behind him.

Qiū Yuè poked her head out from the Luo River Map.

Her power was severely diminished; she was now only the size of a sparrow. She was still full of fear at Níng Chángjiǔ and Sǐmìng's combined strength, and she said tremblingly, "Daddy! Don't kill me, I can prove your innocence! I'm your little helper!"

Qiū Yuè sat on the ground, making a gesture of surrender, and said, "Although I'm a bad person, I've already failed, so I want to turn over a new leaf. I hope Daddy and Mommies can give me another chance to reform."

Níng Chángjiǔ said coldly, "Get to the point."

Qiū Yuè nodded vigorously, then painstakingly opened the Luo River Map, and said, "Everything that happened inside here is recorded in the Luo River Map. Although it can't tell what someone is thinking, perhaps some things can be discerned from the details!"

As she spoke, the sparrow-sized Qiū Yuè extended a finger, mimicking a Taoist priest chanting an urgent incantation. Then the Luo River Map quickly flipped its pages, searching for records concerning Lù Jiàjià and Sǐmìng's journey together.

Sǐmìng said, "You wicked girl, you wanted to kill us earlier, and now you're deliberately trying to sow discord. Níng Chángjiǔ, do you really want to bargain with a tiger?"

Níng Chángjiǔ retorted, "Miss Sǐmìng, weren't you very arrogant just now? What's wrong? Are you feeling guilty?"

Sǐmìng, seeing she couldn't reason with Níng Chángjiǔ, turned to Lù Jiàjià. "Sister Jiàjià, you're not unaware of Qiū Yuè's maliciousness. Don't trust her deceptive words. You should know in your heart how I've treated you throughout this journey."

Lù Jiàjià said, "Sister has been very good to me."

"Since that's the case..."

"It's alright, I'll judge for myself," Lù Jiàjià said. She hesitated for a moment, then still picked up the Luo River Map.

As Lù Jiàjià read from the Luo River Map, she saw Sǐmìng's vow: "Such an ungrateful person, who committed such heinous deeds, if I ever meet them, I will definitely help Sister avenge herself!"

She also read Sǐmìng's words: "No going back on your word."

The text continued, describing