Chapter 86: Yu Dian

Update time: July 11, 2013

The curve of Meng Chuchen’s lips deepened; she hadn’t expected such gains this time. That little head of hers never considered that with her own people already present, of course she wouldn’t stand by and do nothing—especially since the missing one was her own younger sister. This girl was clearly truly anxious, but such a good opportunity would be wasted if not seized.

Meng Chuchen pretended to be serious and asked, “Will you really not run off again?”

Yaoyao, afraid he wouldn’t believe her, nodded vigorously while murmuring her assent.

“And will you stop looking at handsome men?” This was Meng Chuchen’s real purpose.

Yaoyao hesitated, then painfully declared, “I won’t look anymore!”

Satisfied with her answer, Meng Chuchen replied briskly, “All right, then—I’ll bring Yue’er back for you.”

This time it was Yaoyao’s turn to be skeptical. “Really?”

“Really.”

Yaoyao spun around and grabbed Lan Shui’s arm, laughing joyfully, “Sister Lan, did you hear? Brother Chuchen promised to find Sister Yue’er!”

“I heard.” Lan Shui gazed speechlessly at Yaoyao, who remained oblivious to having sold her out, but before she could finish her sentence, she saw Yaoyao’s head suddenly tilt to the side and collapse. She hurriedly caught her in her arms.

Meng Chuchen’s smile froze instantly. With a swift stride, he rushed over and took Yaoyao from Lan Shui’s embrace, asking anxiously, “What’s wrong?”

Yue Shiru immediately ordered the people nearby, “Quick, go summon Elder Lin.”

Lan Shui reached out to feel Yaoyao’s forehead. Finding no fever, she explained, “She caught a chill the night before and was sent back to Heluo Manor. Her fever only just broke this morning, but she came running again and has been keeping vigil by the cliff. No one could persuade her otherwise. Now, having seen you, her nerves eased and she fell asleep.”

Meng Chuchen’s worry eased somewhat, and he gazed tenderly at the person in his arms. Yaoyao was always like this: if you treated her well by a single measure, she would repay you tenfold.

When Elder Lin was called and checked her pulse, his conclusion was not much different from Lan Shui’s. Only then did Meng Chuchen completely relax. He carefully carried Yaoyao back to the carriage, left her in Zizhu’s care, and returned to Lan Shui and Yue Shiru.

Given the number of outsiders nearby, Meng Chuchen approached Yue Shiru with caution and bowed formally. “Greetings, Madam Qin.”

Yue Shiru felt a pang in her heart at this address, holding back tears as she nodded.

Then the three entered the tent together. Only there did Yue Shiru seize Meng Chuchen’s hand and ask, “Child, do you truly have a way to find Yue’er?”

Meng Chuchen let her hold his hand, making no attempt to withdraw. Perhaps because he had lacked familial affection since childhood, he was especially drawn to this blood-deep bond.

“Rest assured, Aunt, I have a way.” He then briefly explained the special connection between himself and Yaoyao—without going into detail and keeping some things hidden, but enough to fill Yue Shiru with wild joy.

He continued, “If nothing else is needed here, I’d like to go down now and join my brother.”

Yue Shiru released his hands. “Yes, yes, hurry, hurry!”

Lan Shui smiled gently. “Qingling hasn’t returned yet. Better let Chuchen stay with Yaoyao for now; when Qingling comes back, they can set out together, so there’s a lookout beneath the cliff.”

“Yes, yes, how could I forget?” Yue Shiru realized her own loss of composure. “You don’t need to keep me company. Go check on Yaoyao, and have someone call you when Qingling returns.”

Meng Chuchen felt nothing amiss these past two days; he knew Lian Yue was safe for the moment and so did not refuse. He left the tent and went straight to the carriage.

Zizhu, seeing him, tactfully stepped out, leaving the cramped space for him and Yaoyao.

Meng Chuchen looked at Yaoyao asleep on the couch, reached out to tuck her stray hair behind her ear, but the moment he touched her smooth skin, the sleeping Yaoyao swatted his hand away. She kept muttering, “Pinky swear—hang it up, a hundred years, no breaking. Pinky swear—hang it up, a hundred years, no breaking.”

Meng Chuchen hooked his own little finger around hers and whispered gently, “For all lifetimes, never changing.”

Half an hour later, Qingling and Steward Yue arrived from Heluo Manor, having prepared everything needed. They also brought a man named Yu Dian—the last herbalist to climb up from beneath the cliff and the one who recommended Qiu Yifei.

This time, Yu Dian had sought out Steward Yue, who was buying herbs, and begged to go down the cliff for a look. Qingling, seeing the advantage of bringing along a herbalist with medical skills, gave his consent.

Meng Chuchen handed the still-sleeping Yaoyao to Lan Shui, then joined Qingling and Yu Dian at the cliff.

Under Yue Shiru’s supervision, a line of stone steps had been carved out two-fifths down the sheer cliff. The lower section still required climbing and iron chisels, but after several waves of excavation, it was no longer so difficult.

The three took only an hour to reach the base. Qingling led them, carrying bundles filled with pills, ointments, and herbs, straight toward the pool.

At this moment, Yue Lingjun and the others were still locked in a standoff with the wild boars in the forest. The first to spot the three was Qiu Yifei, who was scanning the area. He saw Qingling, then immediately recognized the familiar figure following behind. His nose stung, tears nearly spilling, and he shouted, “Old Dian, you got knocked out and dragged down here too!”

His cry drew everyone’s attention. Seeing Meng Chuchen, Yue Lingjun’s eyes lit up immediately. With his second brother present, they could stop floundering blindly.

But soon, Meng Chuchen’s figure was blocked completely by a mass of trembling fat.

“Old Dian, misery loves company—why are our lives so hard!” Qiu Yifei lamented as he gave Yu Dian a hearty bear hug.

Yu Dian didn’t evade him, clearly long used to this. Qingling, however, was visibly disgusted.

Qiu Yifei released Yu Dian and asked in confusion, “So, why did they bring you here? Have you been here before?” Without giving Yu Dian a chance to explain, he sighed, “Misery loves company—truly!” and threw a few friendly punches.

Unable to take it anymore, Qingling pushed Qiu Yifei out of the way. “He came on his own. We didn’t invite him.”

“What?” Qiu Yifei’s already small eyes widened to saucers as he stared at Yu Dian as if seeing a ghost. “Are you bored out of your mind? Got a screw loose? Feeling immortal? Only lunatics come here!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt several cold glares pierce him. He snapped to attention, quickly turned, and grinned ingratiatingly at those behind him. “I didn’t mean you—I meant myself, yes, myself.”

But his words were hardly believable; anyone who trusted him must truly have something wrong with their head.

Luckily, Meng Chuchen stepped past the two, redirecting everyone’s attention.

Qiu Yifei wiped the cold sweat from his brow with his sleeve, nervously pulling Yu Dian aside to whisper, “You really came on your own?”

“I really did,” Yu Dian replied, his voice even softer and full of apology. “Last time, when we drank at your place, we both got drunk. On my way home, I stumbled across the Yue family recruiting people. Still half-drunk, I signed up without knowing how, and then—” Yu Dian looked even more guilty, “I accidentally mentioned you. I just didn’t feel at ease, so I followed along. It’s all my fault.”

Qiu Yifei finally realized he’d been sold out by his friend. But with Yu Dian standing here earnestly apologizing, what could he do? In all Heluo Manor, Yu Dian was the only one he could really talk to. If he broke off with him, he truly couldn’t bring himself to do it.

“Old Dian, you really are muddle-headed. Now we’re both stuck here. Just look at those wild boars in the woods and the leopards in the trees—if I had any skill, I’d definitely slip away.”

Yu Dian glanced in the direction he indicated and was shocked. “How are there so many? Why do you always run into them?”

Qiu Yifei looked helplessly at the fierce beasts, unable to confess that they were all after him. That secret was best kept buried in his heart.

“How should I know? Just unlucky.” He then began to pour out the events of the past two days to Yu Dian.