Chapter Eighty-Five: Lian Yue’s Untimely Fate

Update time: 2013-07-10

The next morning, Lian Yue awoke to the sound of birdsong. Turning slightly, she saw An Ming sleeping soundly against the trunk of a tree, and a peaceful feeling settled in her heart.

Lian Yue lay there, taking several deep breaths of the fresh air before rising, feeling refreshed. She picked up the branch resting nearby and practiced the movements she'd learned yesterday.

Yu Wen Lingxi had already awakened when she got up, his eyes barely open, watching her every move through a narrow slit. Seeing that the first thing she did upon rising was to practice the basic movements he'd taught her, he was a little surprised, but also interested to see how long her enthusiasm would last.

It wasn’t until he saw a light sheen of sweat on Lian Yue’s brow that he opened his eyes, stretched lazily, and stood.

Noticing Yu Wen Lingxi rise, Lian Yue symbolically practiced the movements two more times, then stopped. She turned to him and asked expectantly, “What will we eat for breakfast?”

Under her eager gaze, Yu Wen Lingxi walked to the nearest campfire and used a branch to stir the ashes, revealing the ground beneath, bleached white by the fire.

Lian Yue looked at him, confused. There was nothing there except the ground—what was he planning to feed her?

As if anticipating her puzzlement, Yu Wen Lingxi picked up a stone and gently knocked on the white ground. To Lian Yue’s disbelief, the earth crumbled apart—yes, it simply broke.

An enticing aroma soon wafted from the broken ground. Lian Yue inhaled greedily, recognizing the scent from last night—it was the yam she’d eaten. Drawn by the fragrance, she smacked her lips unconsciously, barely managing to keep from drooling.

Unable to restrain herself, Lian Yue edged closer to Yu Wen Lingxi, watching as he used leaves to carefully extract five or six long yam roots from beneath the broken earth. They no longer bore last night’s blackened exterior, only a thin layer of yellow skin.

At this moment, Lian Yue had no thoughts of questioning when Yu Wen Lingxi had prepared all this; her mind was wholly occupied by the delicious food before her.

Yu Wen Lingxi met her hopeful gaze, and beneath his mask, the corner of his mouth curved into a pleasant smile.

He carried the leaf-wrapped yam roots to a patch of open grass and set them down. Turning to the eager Lian Yue, who was already reaching out, he said, “Wait a moment, let them cool first.”

Reluctantly, Lian Yue drew back her extended hands, eyes darting as she spun around and ran into the nearby thicket. In no time, she returned, delighted, holding two broad leaves the size of fans.

Yu Wen Lingxi, seeing her intent, had already guessed what she was up to. Sure enough, Lian Yue came over and began fanning the steaming yam roots with the leaves.

Seeing the amused look in Yu Wen Lingxi's eyes, Lian Yue explained sheepishly, “It’s too hot; they’ll cool faster this way.”

Yu Wen Lingxi liked her playful nature and promptly walked into the thicket she had just visited, emerging with two similar leaves. He mimicked Lian Yue’s actions, fanning the steaming yam roots.

With him joining in, Lian Yue’s embarrassment vanished, and she focused intently on the meal before her.

Thanks to their combined efforts, the yams cooled quickly. This time, Lian Yue didn’t need Yu Wen Lingxi’s help; she picked up a root, gently peeled away the thin yellow skin, revealing the snowy, crystalline flesh beneath.

As she ate, she marveled aloud and urged Yu Wen Lingxi to join her.

After they finished, Yu Wen Lingxi produced several fresh fruits as if by magic, and Lian Yue happily accepted two.

Once their meal was done, Yu Wen Lingxi restored their resting spot to its original state. Lian Yue checked the mark she’d made yesterday, confirming it was still recognizable, then picked up the branch discarded nearby.

She followed behind Yu Wen Lingxi, who had already finished tidying up, embarking on a new day’s journey.

Along the way, Yue Lian Yue continued practicing yesterday’s movements.

Outside the woods, by the pond, Yue Lingjun and Qiao Zhi, along with others, stood troubled, gazing at the wild boars sprawled beside the forest and the leopard lurking in the trees.

Last night, Yue Lingjun had sent Qing Ling back to the cliff to fetch some repellant herbs and salves. Qing Ling had not yet returned, and though they were anxious, there was nothing more they could do.

Meanwhile, Meng Chuchen, riding at breakneck speed, had already reached Heluo Prefecture. After leaving Phoenix Ridge, he first went to the Yue family.

The news of Yue Lian Yue’s disappearance was bound to reach Yue Zhanpeng’s desk in a day—there was no hiding it.

When Yue Zhanpeng heard Meng Chuchen recount the events, he wavered for a moment before steadying himself, handing Meng Chuchen half a silver token.

This token was proof of authority to mobilize the Yue family’s shadow forces; the other half was with Yue Lingjun.

With only half the token, Meng Chuchen could summon a tenth of the Yue family’s shadow guards. Only when both halves were combined could the entire force be mobilized.

Meng Chuchen was not at all surprised. He took the token, tucked it away, and hurried from the Yue estate, traveling day and night to Heluo Prefecture. Along the way, the branch halls and hidden posts of the Shadow Sect had already received orders, preparing fresh horses for his journey. Thus, while Yue Lingjun and Lian Yue had spent five days on the road, Meng Chuchen compressed the journey into a single day.

Circling the outskirts of Heluo Prefecture to find his bearings, Meng Chuchen rode straight to the cliffside.

That morning, Yao Yao, who had just recovered from her fever, insisted on returning to the site of Lian Yue’s accident, despite Meng Xiao’s objections. She now sat atop a rock by the cliff, anxious eyes fixed on the mist-shrouded gorge below, tears glistening in her eyes.

Hearing hoofbeats behind her, Yao Yao turned and, unable to believe her eyes, rubbed them with her small hands. Meng Chuchen, having taken the Face-Changing Pill, appeared exactly as he had three years ago. Yao Yao had seen this face for over a decade, and immediately burst into tears, the long-suppressed emotions finally spilling forth.

Meng Chuchen saw her as well, though he was unaware Yao Yao had fainted and been ill. He assumed she had simply been frightened. His heart tightened, and he leapt from his horse, gathering the rushing child into his arms.

Yao Yao’s fists pounded Meng Chuchen’s back as she cried out her grievances, “Chuchen Senior Brother, you finally came! Sister Yue was taken by bad people and fell down the cliff…”

“I know, I know,” Meng Chuchen soothed her, gently patting her head. “Yue is only missing. I will find her and bring her back. Don’t worry, don’t cry. Be good!”

But, unexpectedly, his last word made Yao Yao cry even harder, her words becoming incoherent as she babbled a string of complaints. Meng Chuchen could only catch a few phrases, but guessed she was recounting Lian Yue’s disappearance, a story he already knew in detail from Meng Xiao’s letters and the Shadow Sect’s reports during his journey.

Meng Chuchen cast an apologetic glance at Lan Shui and Yue Shiru, who had arrived at the sound.

Yue Shiru had never seen Meng Chuchen’s current appearance, but from Yao Yao’s address, she knew this was her long-lost nephew. With so many troubles weighing on her, she felt no excitement at the reunion.

By comparison, Lan Shui’s demeanor was unusual; her gaze was intense, almost as if something existed between her and Meng Chuchen.

Lan Shui was well aware of the unique bond between these twin siblings. She firmly believed that with Meng Chuchen present, matters would become much simpler.

Yao Yao cried for a long while, soaking Meng Chuchen’s chest with her tears before finally calming down. She sniffled and reluctantly lifted her head from his embrace, her tear-streaked face looking up at Meng Chuchen, “Chuchen Senior Brother, you will definitely find Sister Yue, won’t you?”

Meng Chuchen smiled and nodded.

Then Yao Yao wiped her face with her small hand, “If you really find Sister Yue, I promise to behave and never run off again.” Thinking this wasn’t enough, she turned to Lan Shui, “Lan Sister, you have to be my witness.”

Lan Shui hadn’t expected this twist. She looked at Meng Chuchen, whose astonished expression turned into a wry smile. She silently mourned for Yao Yao, then chose to nod.

Seeing her agreement, Yao Yao beamed and hooked her pinky with Meng Chuchen’s, chanting, “Pinky promise—never break it, not for a hundred years.”