Chapter Twenty-One: A Younger Sister?

Update time: May 21, 2013

Meng Chuchen felt an urgent need to find somewhere to sort out everything that had happened; this rudderless feeling was truly unpleasant. In fact, deep down, she did not reject the situation. Since childhood, whenever her master returned to normal, she always hoped that the woman was her real mother, that she might have a strong, dependable arm to lean on.

With this thought, Meng Chuchen suddenly realized that having a father and such an adorable little sister was not an impossible thing to accept. In a flash, the fog before her eyes was swept away, and only then did she notice that night had fallen without her realizing it. Looking around, she found herself standing right in front of her own door.

The thought that her sister was inside made her hand tremble slightly as it rested on the door. After calming herself, she put on her mask and finally pushed the door open. There was no electric light inside; the room was pitch dark, but Meng Chuchen was already accustomed to it. Her gaze swept across the room and quickly found Lian Yue curled up in the corner of the bed, hugging her knees. Meng Chuchen’s heart ached inexplicably, a sudden urge to hold her close rising within, which she suppressed as she carefully approached Lian Yue.

Lian Yue, huddled in the bed’s corner, sensed a shadow moving toward her and couldn’t help but shiver, secretly gripping a paperweight in her hand, ready to throw it if the shadow came closer.

“Are you afraid of the dark?”

Hearing this unfamiliar yet somehow familiar voice, Lian Yue released the paperweight and collapsed onto the bed, pitifully pleading, “Could you light a lamp? I can’t find the fire stick.”

Meng Chuchen retrieved a fire stick from the hidden compartment under the lamp and lit it, only then noticing Lian Yue’s pale face, clearly frightened. She wished to comfort her but didn’t know how.

“Grr…” Lian Yue was embarrassed to look up at the man in black before her. “Is there anything to eat? I’m so hungry!”

Meng Chuchen glanced toward the plate of pastries in the room and found it empty. Lian Yue, following her gaze, became even more embarrassed and hurriedly explained in a small voice, “I didn’t mean to. I was just too hungry.”

“It was my oversight. I’ll get you something else to eat. Wait here.” Meng Chuchen smiled slightly at Lian Yue, taking the empty plate with her as she left.

Lian Yue watched his departing figure, slightly stunned, wondering to herself, “He seems nice, not like a bad person. So why did he kidnap me? Could it be… No way, I’m still so young… He doesn’t look much older than me either!”

At that moment, Meng Chuchen, who was happily rushing to the kitchen, could never have guessed that his little sister was mentally placing a great accusation on him. If he knew, he would surely be suffering internal injury.

Half an incense stick later, Lian Yue, whose hunger made her stomach and back nearly touch, looked at the plates and dishes laid out on the table, her eyes lighting up with a green glow. She forgot all her previous suspicions and grabbed a chicken drumstick without a care for her image, gnawing at it. Eating so quickly, she choked several times, accepting water from Chuchen’s hands without any hesitation. Perhaps these things meant little to Lian Yue, but to Chuchen, it was deeply satisfying.

“Finally full… burp…” Lian Yue covered her mouth with her left hand, her right holding her swollen stomach, then remembered her earlier suspicions and secretly regretted them. What if he had tampered with the food? Wouldn’t she be doomed? Yet she felt no signs of dizziness.

Looking at the masked man across from her, Lian Yue finally gathered the courage to ask, “Why did you bring me here? Where is this place?”

Chuchen seemed to have anticipated her question. He poured another glass of water and replied, “This is Phoenix Ridge.”

“Phoenix Ridge? What? Did you say Phoenix Ridge?” Lian Yue cried out in shock. Seeing him nod, she urgently asked, “Have you seen three people, around forty years old, about a month ago?”

Chuchen nodded again.

“Where are they?” Unable to control her emotions any longer, Lian Yue grabbed the man’s clothes, her voice trembling with anxiety, “Are they still alive?”

Chuchen clearly sensed the fear in her heart and reassured her, “Don’t worry, they’re well, all in the valley, not far from you.”

Lian Yue’s eyes instantly brightened. Ever since her father disappeared, she had always told herself he would be fine, though she couldn’t help worrying. Now, hearing it from the masked man, she finally felt relieved. She didn’t know why she trusted him so much, but her instinct told her she should.

“Can you take me to see my father?” Lian Yue pleaded.

“Yes.”

“Really? Then let’s go now!” Without another word, Lian Yue grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door.

Chuchen stared at their joined hands, feeling a strange satisfaction. Lian Yue, seeing him unmoved, shook his hand and timidly asked, “Why aren’t we going?”

“It’s already very late. I’ll take you tomorrow,” Chuchen explained. “Moreover, could you tell me about your parents?”

Lian Yue was startled by his words and blurted out, “How do you know about my mother…” She stopped mid-sentence.

Chuchen watched her reaction in confusion. “Your father told me. He also gave me this.” He took a brocade handkerchief with a painted portrait from his pocket and handed it to her.

Lian Yue took the handkerchief and opened it, recognizing it immediately as her father’s. He never parted with it; if he gave it to someone, it must mean he trusted them. There was no harm in telling him the story. Lian Yue unconsciously thought only the best, never doubting the man before her.

After a brief pause, Lian Yue hesitantly spoke, “Since father gave you the handkerchief, I can tell you, though I don’t know much.”

Chuchen nodded, his eyes behind the mask revealing a barely restrained longing.

“All this, I only know because Sister Lan told me,” she added, fearing Chuchen might not know who that was. “She’s my mother’s adopted daughter, Lan Shui. She said my mother used to be the master of the Palace of Weeping Blood. Because she fell in love with my father, she disbanded the palace and lived in seclusion in the mountains, giving birth to my elder brother and sister. Oh, Lan Shui was picked up by my mother in the mountains. Shortly after my mother gave birth to me, she was taken away. My father brought the four of us back to the Yue family and has been searching for mother ever since. Seven years ago, he found some clues and suspected she was imprisoned in Phoenix Ridge. He began studying formations day and night, and about a month ago, he entered Phoenix Ridge with two others. Since then, there’s been no news. That’s all I know. Oh, did my father find my mother?” Having finished, Lian Yue looked at Chuchen with hope.

Chuchen didn’t know how to answer, for his master—no, his mother—might have forgotten everything. So he replied vaguely, “I don’t know either. Let’s wait until tomorrow after you meet your father. Rest early, I’ll come get you in the morning.”

Lian Yue answered with a hint of disappointment, “Oh!” As Chuchen was about to leave, she asked, “Can you tell me your name?”

“Meng Chuchen.”

Before the words had fully faded, Chuchen gently closed the door behind him. He gazed at the shadowy trees outside, pondering Lian Yue’s words and the conversation with the three men that afternoon. He thought, so he had always been searching. This father seemed not bad. And this little sister was good too, trusting him deeply. Although his junior sister Yaoyao trusted him as well, the feeling was different; the trust of the former brought him more joy.