Chapter 9: Exchange

"Fine, I promise you. I will die for you right now!" Su Wen did not hesitate. "I owe you, and today I shall settle it all. I hope this might lessen the anger in your heart. Perhaps, if I tell you now that I have always loved you, you will surely think I have lost my mind."

Hearing this, Man Sheng revealed a bitter smile. "At this point, all that has passed is beyond recovery. Speaking of love or lack thereof is truly ridiculous. Now, is that all you have to say? You should know that I have no desire to hear such things from you."

Forgetfulness Cliff is the highest and most perilous point in Golden Swallow Dock. The scenery here is naturally the most beautiful, but today, even with such a view before him, Su Wen had no desire to look.

"Adoptive father, you must not! Do you remember what you said before? You said that as long as one is alive, there is hope. But look at what you are doing now. Have you truly given up?"

"Child, you need not say anything more. I told you before that I owed her much, and I have always been clear about gratitude and grudges. This debt should have been settled many years ago. Fortunately, I have already passed the Drunken Cloud Profound Divine Art to you. Feng Ming, do you know why I bestowed that name upon you? It is because I hope that one day you will soar like a phoenix into the heavens, carving a path different from mine. I know that in the end, you will surely succeed."

"No, Father! As long as I am here today, I will not let anyone harm you. I understand now that when you taught me all your skills, you had already anticipated this, hadn't you?"

"You two seniors, if your hearts are truly filled with such rage, then by all means, strike. But wanting my father to commit suicide is absolutely impossible. Senior Man Sheng, after all these years, do you really not want to hear your true feelings from him? You keep talking about how difficult your life has been, but Father has also endured much. It is a pity that you never once considered his feelings."

"You were of such a temperament in the past as well. Since you have both gathered at Golden Swallow Dock today, you should clarify everything and resolve these issues, rather than blindly hurting each other. Father, come up now. Whatever words you have for one another, speak them now. You haven't seen each other for so many years; is there truly nothing left to say?"

"I have always believed that emotions are only meaningful when they are held in one's own hands, for only then can I see them. But look at you two seniors—what are you doing? You used to be so close; why have things turned out like this?"

Man Sheng felt that this brat, Zhuang Yunzhen, was truly meddlesome. "Boy, I advise you: this is a matter between me and your father. In the end, you are merely an adopted son; this has nothing to do with an outsider like you. If you continue to act so foolishly, do not blame me for showing no respect. By the way, I almost forgot—I came here specifically for the Spiritual Origin Gauze. Su Wen, if you are willing to hand it over, I can let go of the past. But I suppose you wouldn't be willing to do that, would you?"

"Since that is the case, there is nothing left to say. If you refuse to return what you owe me, I shall have to take it myself!"

Was she going to strike without another word? How could Zhuang Yunzhen allow such a thing? "Bang!" Zhuang Yunzhen used a move called Burning Heaven to parry the mad woman's killing blow. "Senior, it seems you do not understand me. Since Su Wen is my elder, I will surely protect him. Your power is not shallow, but perhaps you do not yet know how formidable I have become."

"Good boy, I never expected you to be able to block such a powerful strike! Very well, I acknowledge your ability. For the sake of your talent, I will give your father one chance. I want him to say 'I'm sorry' to me in person. Yes, I have waited for that apology for many years. Why? Should he not say it to me now?"

Man Sheng was, after all, a woman—especially in this moment, facing the man she had loved for so many years. Yes, she could deceive everyone around her, but could she deceive her own heart? All the previous calm was but a mask, a pretense of strength. The moment she saw Su Wen, her internal defenses had collapsed.

Before she knew Su Wen, she was not like this; she had been a person who lived by her own rules. But in this world, there was only one man who could throw her heart into such chaos. Man Sheng walked step by step toward Su Wen at the edge of the cliff, her voice turning hoarse. "Why? Why would you rather die than say you are sorry to me? Do I disgust you that much? Tell me! What did I do wrong? If I am truly at fault, tell me, and I will change."

At this moment, Man Sheng was not an peerless expert, but a beautiful woman suffering from immense grievances. The man before her was the one she had loved for years. Did she really not even have the right to be vulnerable?

"Stop crying. It is not that I did not want to apologize; I simply felt I had no face to see you. For all these years, I have gone to Treasure Mountain countless times to see you, staying for hours. Yes, I have had so many words I wanted to tell you. I wanted to see you—I was desperate to see you. Now that I finally have, I am filled with shame."

Su Wen could no longer hold back. He had so many words to say, but he had never had the chance. Now, if he could not apologize with words, he would apologize with actions. But was this what Man Sheng really wanted? "Fool, you big fool! Do you really not know what I have truly wanted all these years? No, you know perfectly well; you are just unwilling to do it. I am in so much pain, do you know that?"

Man Sheng was already weeping. How she missed the warmth of his embrace! Now, the man she loved most was just a fist's distance away, yet she no longer had the courage to take that step. Su Wen’s face always held a faint smile—the expression he reserved only for the woman he loved.

"I am sorry. I know this belated apology carries no weight now. I have hurt you in the past, so whatever you wish to do, you may. You came here to fight me; now that you are here, what are you waiting for?"

"Hmph. Mandola, you awakened Man Sheng—was it not for this very moment? But you should know what kind of man I am. Regardless of the circumstances, I will never hand the Spiritual Origin Gauze to you!"

"Today, my son and I shall settle this with you once and for all!" Since there was no longer a shred of affection left in his heart, why linger? It was time to strike.

In Mandola's heart, several beautiful and enchanting Mandola flowers had already manifested. It seemed they had finally reached this point. Mandola had been well aware of this and was filled with anticipation. "Hahaha! This is for the best! Now, we two brothers can finally fight with all our might!"

"Wait! When did I ever say you could fight Su Wen? I said that only I am qualified to fight him." Man Sheng looked at Mandola coldly. "This man was once the one I loved most. For these years, I have wanted to fight him and surpass him—this has been my greatest wish. Why? Are you trying to take that away from me?"

"Very well, very well. Since you say so, what objection could I have? Actually, many years ago, I wanted to see the result of this final battle between you two. Remember your promise: retrieve the Spiritual Origin Gauze. Otherwise, you know exactly what the consequences will be."

If he didn't have to act personally, that was even better. After all, the Poisonous Body was something Su Wen himself had created. That man had once been invincible with his divine arts; now, facing the Poisonous Body, what choice could he possibly make?

A gentle breeze, the bright moon, and an unchanging heart. The scene was as beautiful as a painting.

"I never intended to fight you. I know I have failed you all these years. This life of mine was yours to begin with; if you want it, take it at any time, and I shall not have a single complaint. But the Spiritual Origin Gauze is the treasure of the Poison Sect. When it was in the sect, no one valued its power. Now that I have brought it out, the sect is suddenly full of dissatisfaction. If they cared so much, what were they doing for all those years? Now they want to use the power of the Spiritual Origin Gauze to save the declining momentum of the Poison Sect."

"I cannot let that happen. I remember telling you this in the past, didn't I? Have you forgotten?"

"No, I have never forgotten. As for the pain I have endured all these years, I fear you cannot understand. Let us speak no more—let us fight. The anger pent up in my heart must finally be released. If I do not fight now, I do not even know the meaning of my existence."

"This body full of poison exists because of you. I have tried many ways to neutralize it, but no matter how much effort I spent, there was no cure. What? Are you satisfied to see me like this? After all, for so many years, I have been the only one who could fully withstand the Poisonous Body. But I have had enough of this endurance. Do you understand?"

"Whoosh!"

With those words, Man Sheng struck three palms in succession, her palms wreathed in shocking black mist. This was the power of poison. After sleeping for so many years, she had truly mastered it. "You were right in the past: if I can skillfully use the Poisonous Body, it is indeed my greatest strength and reliance. Even you, I fear, have no way to withstand it now. Today, I can finally defeat you."

Su Wen had created the Poisonous Body, which meant his own body was immune to all toxins. The gentleness of the Drunken Cloud could neutralize the rigidity of the Poisonous Body. "For all these years, there has been one thing I wanted to do: to use the Drunken Cloud to neutralize the poison in your body and restore you to your former self. Now, although you can use this poisonous power with great skill, it has unknowingly eroded your inner self."

The Drunken Cloud brought a gentle breeze, while the Poisonous Body brought a black fog. Between black and white, were they truly destined for a battle to the death?

"Very good, Zhuang Yunzhen. You don't have to watch anymore. Weren't you very arrogant just now? Why don't you let me be your opponent? Of course, if you can defeat me, I will leave immediately. As for the Spiritual Origin Gauze, I naturally have no right to it. That is only natural. Since you are my brother's adopted son, calling me 'Uncle' is not too much to ask. Hmph, today, let me, your uncle, test your skills!"

Mandola’s poisonous flowers surged toward Zhuang Yunzhen with ferocity. Zhuang Yunzhen was wrapped in the astonishing Profound Steel Power. He had been wary of Mandola from the start. As Mandola attacked, Zhuang Yunzhen spun, his left hand unleashing a move called Burning Heaven and his right hand Thunder Move. Instantly, shocking thunder and fire power appeared around him.

"Bang!"

Although the Mandola flower was the most beautiful in the world, it was incredibly hard, radiating a terrifying purple glow. Could Zhuang Yunzhen’s Sun and Moon Shine Palm truly block such a formidable flower?

After a dull, heavy impact, Zhuang Yunzhen was actually outmatched, his strong body sent reeling backward by the recoil. "Hahaha! You brat, did you think my Mandola flower was that easy to break? Believe it now: the Mandola is my weapon and my armor. If you want to make me move, you must shatter my armor. But you should have known from the start that you cannot do it."

"The Profound Steel Power is tyrannical, but it's a pity you haven't mastered it. If you had, dealing with me would be easy. But I'm afraid you won't have the chance!"

"Mandola Formation!"

Suddenly, countless Mandola flowers fell from the sky. They were fragrant and beautiful, drifting like catkins, but in an instant, they turned into sharp blades, forming a formidable sea of flowers that threatened to consume him entirely!

"Boy, you know my power now! It's a pity you have no strength left to resist. If you did, I would love to see what you could do. Come on! You were so arrogant before. I know you want to kill me to help everyone. Your father seems to be in danger, but it looks like you won't have the chance to help him!"

"Pfft!"

Zhuang Yunzhen spat out a mouthful of blood. The recoil had caused him severe internal injuries. "Yes, you know it yourself: you have no power left. Yet, I am still curious about you. I know you have deep cultivation and aren't easily defeated. Stand up! I know you have remarkable power."

"Hmph. I thought the Lingyun Records were the world's most formidable martial art, but it seems it's nothing special. Fighting you has been a waste of my time. But since things are as they are, I'll give you one more chance. If you can defeat me, I will leave. Unfortunately, you can't even stand now."

"Child, think carefully. What kind of martial art is the Drunken Cloud? If you are anxious, you cannot perform it. But if your heart is perfectly calm, you can truly master this divine art. Know that when we martial artists reach a certain level, we are not far apart, so why can one still prevail over another? It is because every person’s mindset is different."

"Plucking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountains." So, the first realm of Drunken Cloud, "Plucking Chrysanthemums," meant precisely this: maintaining absolute calm at all times. Once calm, the opponent cannot guess your thoughts, and you can use the opportunity to gradually recover your strength.

"What? Senior, you spoke so highly of yourself just now. Is this truly all your power? You said I disappointed you—I admit it. But truthfully, your own skills don't seem like much either."

Even though his breath was failing, Zhuang Yunzhen stood up, forcing his face to look normal. He didn't know how long he could keep up the ruse, but doing nothing would guarantee failure.

"Good boy! You are something. In all these years, you are the second person to withstand my Mandola flowers. You really are father and son; even your temperaments are alike. This makes me incredibly angry! Today, you shall all die! I have waited for this moment for many years."

"Whoosh!" It was a powerful, tyrannical palm strike. No one had ever fully blocked this move, known as "Heaven and Earth Destruction." The name was arrogant, but the power was real. All the energy between heaven and earth seemed to be gathered in that strike. Resisting it should have been impossible.

Zhuang Yunzhen remained calm, his inner energy shifting. He felt no fear, merely raising his palms. His move was silent, devoid of power. Hmph, did such a move deserve to be called a move?

"Hahaha! Boy, are you truly out of tricks? Trying to deal with me with such a move? It seems what you learned in the past cannot help you. Very well, you shall die at my hands today. I wonder if your father can bear that result?"

Zhuang Yunzhen ignored the taunts. This move was "Indifference," the ultimate palm technique of the first realm of Drunken Cloud. It appeared indifferent, but in reality, it transformed all past experiences—good or bad—into supreme power. To truly forget the past was impossible; keeping it in one's heart, it gradually fades. Fading is not forgetting, but truly understanding.

"Bang!"

A shocking collision. The only difference was that Zhuang Yunzhen was smiling. Even he hadn't expected "Indifference" to turn the tide.

Mandola's formation and his "Heaven and Earth Destruction" dissipated entirely. "This is impossible! How can you have such power? Your cultivation should have been crippled by me. What did you do?"

Mandola was stunned. In all his years, he had never seen such an interesting person. How could he unleash such power while suffering from such severe internal injuries? "What is the name of this move?"

"This move is called 'Indifference.' It is not about forgetting the past, but learning to face it with detachment. But if someone insists on using it to harm others, I will not stand for it. How is it, Senior? Does my palm strike fall far short of your ultimate skill?"

"Face it with detachment? Hmph, only Su Wen could say such things. But you have truly grasped the essence of your father's art. You want to be indifferent? Fine. But look at your father. Facing his beloved, has he ever been indifferent? No. Su Wen has spent years maintaining his calm, but in front of this woman, it has vanished. Once his heart fluctuates, his Drunken Cloud is broken."

"The Drunken Cloud divine art is formidable, but it has a fatal weakness: it cannot tolerate a single fluctuation of emotion. If there is even the slightest disturbance, his cultivation will dissolve and can never be recovered. I told him years ago not to practice it, but he was obsessed with becoming stronger. Now, he eats the fruit of his own actions; he can blame no one!"

Su Wen was dodging. He had said before that he did not learn Drunken Cloud to fight Man Sheng, but to protect her. Why had things turned out this way?

"Why don't you fight back? Do you still think you can defeat me? If you do not strike now, I will only look down on you. Years ago, you told me that a martial artist should strike when the time is right. But look at what you are doing now. Do you truly want to die at my hands?"

"No, I will never fight you. I have already failed you. If I were to hurt you now, I would not be worthy of your love."

"I am using the Drunken Cloud footwork to avoid your moves, but my true target was never you—it was my brother. I know you were coerced into fighting him. Let us join forces; I believe it will feel different. Are you really unwilling to fight alongside me?"

"No! I have only one thought: to kill you. Otherwise, the fire in my heart cannot be released. As for your apology, I have received it. If I lose this battle, I will have nothing left. Honestly, I am unwilling for this to happen. I have a wish I want to fulfill. If you still have love for me in your heart, you should help me."

"I know what your wish is. You want to show the world your great power. You want to pass your life’s learning to a worthy successor, but for all these years, you haven't found one."

"You know that in this world, only you can master the Poisonous Body. Who else could handle this power?"

"Right. I remember now: I became like this because of you. You are responsible! No matter what you say, you must help me. I know you are worried about your adopted son, but Zhuang Yunzhen is quite powerful; you need not worry about him. You should worry about yourself. If you don't defeat me now, you will never walk out of here."

Su Wen knew his situation, but he had no worries. "I know all that you say. But Man Sheng, being with you now makes me happy. As long as I can truly help you, I am willing to pay any price. That is my resolve, and it has not changed for all these years."

"If there is anyone in this world who understands me, it is you. I am worried about my son, but the person I worry about most is you. Your poisonous power must not be used again. If you use it, you might truly die. Must it come to this? I cannot bear it. You should know what is in my heart."

"Su Wen, your words are useless now. Do you know why? I have truly controlled this woman. You see, the reason she awakened is that I placed a Mandola flower inside her. She must obey me, or she will die. If she dies, you will surely go mad, won't you? That is exactly what I want to see. Do you understand? No, you never understand, because you only care about yourself. Am I wrong?"

"Let me ask you: in all these years, you had countless chances to save your beloved woman. Why didn't you? Is it hard to answer? It's okay. I will tell you: it is because you are terrified of her. You feared that if she truly returned, the situation would become uncontrollable."

Su Wen’s face turned pale, but the words were true. "You created the Poisonous Body, but once it was done, you were repulsed by it. With your skill, you could have easily mastered it, yet you didn't."

"You speak nicely, saying everything is for her, but the truth is, you knew from the beginning that Man Sheng could learn the Poisonous Body. Or rather, it was done under your direction. Am I wrong?"

Mandola looked at the stunned, heartbroken Man Sheng. "Man Sheng, I told you that this man is untrustworthy. If you believe in him, you will be the one to suffer. You should believe me now. This was his plan all along. Can anyone bear such things? I think you have your answer. What are you waiting for? He has no affection for you; you should strike now!"

"Is what he says true? Am I really like this because of your design? When I came here, I told myself over and over that you didn't do this. I saw you seal the Poisonous Body. That is why, even when I was sealed, I felt sadness and anger, but never hatred. But now... I see that I was the naive one all along!"

What could Su Wen say? "Yes, that you became like this is my fault. That is why I would not fight you. I created the Poisonous Body to use with the Spiritual Origin Gauze for greater power, but I failed. You have known me for years; you know I cannot tolerate failure."

"I have been successful for so many years, and now, because of this Poisonous Body, my reputation is ruined. How can I recover?"

"At that time, you had just stepped into the martial world. I thought I would let you practice the Poisonous Body. If you succeeded, I would have an answer for the Poison Sect. If you failed, I would seal you. I was born in the Poison Sect; everything I had came from them. If not for the sect, I do not know what I would have become."

"I wanted to repay them, but things went wrong. I didn't expect you to control the Poisonous Body, but your consciousness was being consumed. I couldn't bear to see you die, so I sealed you for all these years."

"I visited Treasure Mountain for years not because I didn't want to break the seal, but because I found that the seal had fused with your own will. Extracting the poison was impossible. Now that you have awakened, the process must have been painful."

"Mandola, you are a detestable man. You went to such lengths to deal with me. But do not worry; now that I have discovered this, do you think I have no way to resolve it?"

"Hahaha! Brother, you are still as naive as ever. Yes, I made Man Sheng awaken just to deal with you. Now that she has gained immense power, what can you do? There is one way, but given your character, you would never do it: can you truly kill the woman you love?"

"No matter how many years pass, you cannot do it, for that is not your nature. But if you want her to live, this is the only way. Think carefully about what is best for her. Watching you struggle brings me such joy. Exchange the Spiritual Origin Gauze for her life—is that too much to ask?"