Chapter 85: Soundless Threats

Yun Yang had only thought about his own responsibilities and his brothers' when he decided to do what he did, to quash the war using the Nine Supremes' identity.

To protect this country, to protect the people of his homeland from further suffering during the war.

It was only when he saw Yun Zuiyue's invitation that Yun Yang finally felt the pangs of regret.

His actions had undoubtedly proven an inconvenient truth - Supreme Flame was still alive!

It meant that he had personally given Yun Zuiyue a dream that could never be realized! He had crafted her an everlasting hope that was utterly impossible.

How cruel this would be to Yun Zuiyue; it was even more heartless than Supreme Flame's sacrifice!

Initially, Yun Zuiyue could still repress her feelings, gradually forget this love and begin a new life.

However, after this incident, there was no longer any hope for that

In Yun Zuiyue's heart, perhaps even in all of the people of Yutang's hearts... Supreme Flame was still alive.

If he was not dead, how was Yun Zuiyue supposed to gradually forget about him? How could she start anew? She would only wait on more anxiously, guard this love even more deeply.

Looking at Yun Zuiyue's expression, Yun Yang was utterly convinced that she had gone mad with happiness!

"Young brother!" Yun Zuiyue's eyes radiated unabated glee. "Where is he? Where is he? Tell me! Please!"

Yun Yang looked at her helplessly.

"Please tell me!" Yun Zuiyue said anxiously, "He has already come out to do battle. He's no longer hiding... Can't you tell me?"

Yun Yang looked at her and spoke mechanically, "I don't know..."

Yun Zuiyue took two steps back in disappointment, her heated gaze towards Yun Yang slowly calming down. It was like a burning flame that slowly shrunk to a tiny spark which then extinguished completely.

"Are you really... Flame's brother?" Yun Zuiyue looked at Yun Yang with a cold, sharp gaze. "Hearing that they're still alive, hearing that they're still fighting... How can you not be one bit excited?"

Yun Yang heaved a long sigh.

"Sister Yue, may I ask you something?" Yun Yang said.

"What?" Yun Zuiyue's eyes were still guarded.

"Do you think that is it better for a person to live with a dream? Or is it better to live forever in a dream? Or..." Before Yun Yang could finish, he was cut off by Yun Zuiyue. She said coldly, "This is a silly question. If a person doesn't even have a dream, what is there to live for? Especially if a woman doesn't even have a dream, then what is she staying alive for?"

"If a woman doesn't even have a dream, what is she staying alive for..." Yun Yang repeated in his heart.

He finally sighed softly and said, "Sister Yue, you are right. I am not the least bit happy hearing that they're fighting. I am truly upset."

Yun Zuiyue's expression darkened as her cold eyes looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Yun Yang sighed softly, "Sister Yue, perhaps you are not aware what price this battle exacted upon us."

The woman's face scrunched in anxiety, growing increasingly nervous, "What is it?"

I can only act accordingly. Yun Yang decided in his heart and no longer hesitated. "After they were injured, there wasn't any news for a whole year. Perhaps it's too much to say that they were on their last legs but it's absolutely not an exaggeration to say that they were at their maximum capacity."

"Now that the empire is at risk, they have to make a move. The price for this war isn't only the potential of whatever life they have remaining."

Yun Zuiyue's face fell.

"Especially when the lords have already successfully hidden themselves from the world's eyes by feigning death but this war would immediately turn them into everyone's target once again."

Yun Yang looked at Yun Zuiyue and said, "Why should I be happy?"

Yun Zuiyue was befuddled, pacing around in panic as she spoke anxiously, "That is true... Why didn't I think of this? They are indeed really more at risk than before..."

Yun Yang's heart throbbed with a pang. "It is a critical period right now. I have been hiding at home and wouldn't have headed out under normal circumstances."

Yun Zuiyue was apologetic as she said, "Young brother, I apologize... Your Sister Yue is always like this. Women... we are prone to being suspicious."

"Do not worry about it." Yun Yang's heart throbbed. "Sister Yue doesn't have to blame yourself. I'm really worried now but I can't do anything about it. I don't know how the situation stands."

Yun Zuiyue exhaled a long sigh, her gaze drifting towards the outside of the windows and said softly, "As long as you're alive and well... As long as you're alive and well... I'm willing to take on all the sufferings for lives to come..."

Her voice was pious, as if praying to the heavens.

Yun Yang felt his heart wrench with pain.

Such a loyal woman...

His soul grew troubled.

How could he end this never-ending passion?

Fifth brother...

Yun Yang suddenly thought of fifth, sixth, and seventh brother's three wills that were lying in his secret chamber after he opened Supreme Flame's room.

He dared not open them previously in order to concentrate cultivating. It looked like he had to go through them upon returning tonight.

However, Yun Yang's heart was pricked each time he thought of Supreme Wind's will. Now that he had to face all three brothers' wills at once, Yun Yang was slightly afraid of what he had to do.

He genuinely did not feel like opening them.

The unfolding of each will felt like it was brutally tearing his heart apart.

"Sister Yue, Zhao Binglong's incident previously... Did anyone find fault with you?" Yun Yang asked.

"No, no. After all, Zhao Binglong's crimes were announced to the public right after that..." Yun Zuiyue continued, "But I do have a sort of pesky problem now."

She hesitated but smiled charmingly right away. "It's nothing I can't handle though."

Yun Yang frowned. "Since Sister Yue has already mentioned the problem... why not explain it further? Could it be that young brother here is still considered as an outsider? Sister Yue's words have hurt me."

Yun Yang's words pulled at Yun Zuiyue's guilt as she quickly laughed in apology and said, "Young brother, don't be angry. It's just a few of the young masters of noble families..."

As she spoke of this, she suddenly fell silent.

Yun Yang's expression turned into one of menace right away. "North, South, East or West? Or is it Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter?"

Yun Zuiyue forced a smile as she replied, "It's nothing big. Young brother, please go back to your business. Sister Yue has a talisman here, who dares lands a hand on Sister Yue?"

Yun Yang changed his mind then as he laughed as well, "This is true. Young brother has lost his composure."

Looking at Yun Zuiyue's expression, he knew in his heart that this problem would not be easily solved. Besides, Yun Zuiyue said 'who would dare to lay a hand on Sister Yue?'. These words made Yun Yang realized that it was not the people from Cirrus House that was being accused, it was Yun Zuiyue herself.

Or perhaps, the entire Cirrus House. This was already enough to rouse a strong killing intent in Yun Yang!

However, he did not let it show. He chatted with Yun Zuiyue for a bit and politely begged to leave.

Sending him to the door and seeing that he looked normal again, with a gentle gaze and still possessed of his usual grace, Yun Zuiyue was slightly relieved thinking that he was no longer concerned about what she said.

She had only herself to blame. "Why did you mention this of all things? What if young brother really... Isn't it my sin then? Yun Zuiyue oh Yun Zuiyue, how many things have you been through already, why can't you get a hold of your tongue?"

"Hopefully Yun Yang has really let it go. Please don't be rash..."

...

After Yun Yang bid farewell to Yun Zuiyue, he still wore a friendly face as he walked back leisurely. It was until he made a turn into another street that his expression changed entirely.

Who dared to trifle with Yun Zuiyue and Cirrus House?

It was a death wish.

He stretched his hand into his robe to hold the jade pendant right away, sending the Nine Heavens Dictum.

Cirrus House had been a place of emphasis for Yun Yang; whatever that had happened here had naturally been recorded. It was barely fifteen minutes after Yun Yang had sent the dictum when the entire story was sent back to him.

Ten days ago, Qiu Yunsan, Qiu Family's young master of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, the four noble families, came to Cirrus House with the others. Upon meeting Yun Zuiyue, he became infatuated with her.

For ten continuous days, he has frequented the Cirrus House every day. He spent his fortune lavishly, even kneeling outside Cirrus House to ask her hand in marriage publicly. He wants to marry Yun Zuiyue, to take her as his concubine.

Yun Zuiyue did not agree while this Young Master Qiu did not give up as well; his methods only become more aggressive.

He even made use of several influential powers to persuade Yun Zuiyue on behalf of himself.

He has not done anything impolite but his pestering every day is enough to cause a headache!

A chilling gleam radiated in Yun Yang's eyes.

Qiu Yunsan? Yun Zuiyue as his concubine?

How dare he?

As he thought about it, he sent another Nine Heavens Dictum. "Who are the influential men behind this?"

The reply was even faster this time round, sent over almost immediately; there was not even a moment of hesitation. Obviously, the other side knew well of this lord's temper and had already prepared all the things needed.

"Shui Yuehan, an aide from the crown prince's residence? Board of War's Old Marshal Leng Daoyin's son-in-law, Zhou Zizheng? Tiantang's keeper of Plethora Gem Tower, Fu Guansan? And..."

Looking at the last name, Yun Yang was unexpectedly shocked. "Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan's Mistress Ding!"

"What bullsh*t is this!" Yun Yang felt like a fool, a fuming rage that threatened to burn the entire Tiantang City rose in his heart.

Fifth brother had not passed for long and his love was actually faced with such coercion. Family members from the Board of War's two old marshals were actually involved!

There were also people from the crown prince's residence and an influential keeper of Plethora Gem Tower, one of the mysterious forces in the martial arts world.

Yun Yang was infuriated!

If you court her sincerely and grant her the position of official consort, even if Sister Yue doesn't reciprocate, as long as you're not using despicable tactics, I wouldn't make a fuss out of it despite not feeling good about this.

After all, fifth brother is gone... I can't possibly allow such an unmatched beauty to be grieving her entire life!

However, this was outright coercion; manipulating people using status!

Although Young Master Qiu had not done anything outrageous, Yun Yang understood the intention behind his actions - I'm assigning these people to pressure you, I'm not bullying you. As long as you think about it, you'll wonder how you're supposed to continue making a living once you offended these people in Tiantang City.

Can you afford to dishonor these people? What would be the effect? What will become of Cirrus House? What will become of your sisters?

These were all soundless threats, and there were few people in this world who could shoulder such threats.

Yun Yang's eyes were about to spurt fire. This had absolutely crossed the line, he even loathed the old marshal now.

If you didn't know about this, you are safe.

However, If you knew about it, don't blame me when the world feels my wrath!