Chapter Twenty-Four: The Grand Elder Menglan (2)

Update time: May 24, 2013

Yue Zhanpeng felt a sharp pain in his heart when she mentioned Meng Yue, but having finally found her, he refused to give up. “She is my wife. I have the right to know where she is!”

“Haha, wife? What a joke. How dare you slander our sect master like this? When did you go through the proper marriage rites? Was there a grand procession? And your wife’s name is Meng Yue—what does that have to do with our sect master, Meng Yanran? Master Yue, are you daydreaming in broad daylight?” Meng Lan’s face twisted with malice, and she spat in Yue Zhanpeng’s direction.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Yue Zhanpeng’s face. Years ago, Meng Yue had disbanded the Bloodcry Palace, and the two of them had settled in a remote village, living in seclusion. Their wedding was attended only by local neighbors, and both used aliases. Neither the Yue family nor Bloodcry Palace knew about it. So now, Yue Zhanpeng found himself unable to refute Meng Lan, unsure where to even begin.

Nearby, Zhou Man, dissatisfied at seeing his second brother bested, shouted at Meng Lan, “How can you be so coarse and unreasonable? Wouldn’t a face-to-face meeting clear things up?”

“You really think this is your Zhou family? Our sect master isn’t someone you can meet just because you want to. You’d better worry about yourselves first. As for anything else,” Meng Lan snorted, adding, “wishful thinking!”

Lian Yue couldn’t hold back any longer, disregarding all etiquette, and muttered softly, “Who are you to meddle in my family’s affairs?”

Meng Lan’s gaze shot over like a blade, staring at the pale yellow hem peeking out from behind Yue Zhanpeng. Her voice was icy: “Who? Who just spoke?”

Lian Yue boldly stepped out from behind her father, unafraid, and glared right back. She spoke loudly, “It was me!”

Yue Zhanpeng saw how rash Lian Yue was, afraid she would further provoke this mad woman, and hurriedly scolded, “Yue’er, no more nonsense! Come back!”

Lian Yue wrinkled her nose in displeasure but didn’t say anything more. She gave Meng Lan a defiant glare before reluctantly retreating.

Meng Lan noticed her little gesture, and a hint of nostalgia flickered in her eyes. In the past, her junior sister had been just as lively. This little girl… willow brows, almond eyes, cherry lips—she looked so much like her junior sister fifteen years ago. Meng Lan’s hostility faded. She asked uncertainly, “Who are you… what’s your relation to this Yue?”

Lian Yue resented the way she referred to her father, pursed her lips, and refused to answer.

Yue Zhanpeng had already caught the change in Meng Lan’s expression and knew she’d guessed Lian Yue’s identity. He spoke up, “She is the girl from the twins Meng Yue bore that year—Yue Lian Yue.”

Meng Lan heard Yue Zhanpeng’s voice and replied bluntly, “Who asked you? Mind your own business.”

Lian Yue’s little face couldn’t maintain composure and snapped back in the same tone, “Who I am is none of your business. Why ask so many questions? Mind your own business.”

Zhou Man gave Lian Yue a thumbs-up. “Well said, niece! Truly my fourth sister’s daughter—she has her spirit. Good, good!”

Yu Wenmo, who had been silent, nodded in agreement, thoughtfully appraising Yue Lian Yue, and said to Yue Zhanpeng, “Second brother, I’m quite satisfied with this daughter-in-law.”

Lian Yue’s face darkened instantly. Are these uncles praising or mocking me?

“Big brother, third brother, let’s discuss this later,” Yue Zhanpeng looked helplessly at his sworn brothers, urging them to put the topic aside. “And Yue’er, you mustn’t be so rude to her. If not for her help back then, you and Chen’er might not have survived! Apologize now!”

Lian Yue pouted, reluctant. Though her father’s words eased her hostility toward the woman a little, it wasn’t enough to forgive Meng Lan’s attitude toward her father. She kept her lips tightly shut.

Meng Lan watched Lian Yue’s stubbornness and sneered, “Such a narrow-minded little girl. She inherited my junior sister’s looks, but none of her temperament. I wonder who taught her.”

Lian Yue’s newly diminished hostility flared back up. She retorted angrily, “My mother was taken from me right after I was born, my father was busy searching for her, and my brother and sister had no one to teach us. Who was supposed to teach me? Who’s to blame for how I turned out, huh!” She finished and turned her face away.

Lian Yue’s words were innocuous, but they struck Meng Lan’s own pain. “I… I… If I hadn’t taken my junior sister, how could she have survived?”

“Ha! You finally admit it. Now you’re not claiming they’re different people, are you?” Lian Yue waved her arms, triumphant.

Meng Lan was stunned, realizing she’d been tricked. Comparing in her mind, she thought, this mischievous spirit is definitely inherited. Seeing Lian Yue’s smugness, Meng Lan considered that keeping her in the sect might not be a bad idea. The more she thought about it, the more appealing the idea became.

Lian Yue proudly basked in the praise of the three men, stealing glances at Meng Lan, whose expression kept shifting, and felt more pleased than ever. If the setting weren’t so serious, she might have burst out laughing.

She pressed her advantage, “Now you have nothing to say. When will you let me see my mother? And where is Chuchen?”

“I never said I’d let you see my junior sister. She doesn’t know you at all, and even Chuchen is just a foster son by her side. What right do you have? Even if you had the right, except for you, the other three seeing her is a hopeless dream.” She looked at the changing expressions of Lian Yue and the three men whose gazes were increasingly intense. “As for Chuchen, he doesn’t want to see you either.”

“Aunt Lan… Master wants to see them.”

Meng Lan spun around in shock, staring at Chuchen standing outside the door. “How did you get here? Who dared unseal your acupoints?”

Just then, a small head poked out from behind Chuchen, tongue sticking out, scratching her cheek in embarrassment. “Aunt Lan, it was me.” Yaoyao saw Meng Lan’s expression and felt bitter inside. Why did she sneak down from the back mountain and end up in her senior brother’s room? She couldn’t just ignore him, and he dragged her into trouble. Hopefully, Aunt Lan wouldn’t punish her with wall-facing meditation again.

Yaoyao put on a smile to curry favor, hurriedly clarifying, “Senior brother made me do it, really—it’s not my fault!”

Meng Lan glared at Yaoyao, who quickly hid behind Chuchen, inwardly crying, Aunt Lan’s anger is terrifying.

Meng Lan’s gaze finally settled on Chuchen. “What did you say—the sect master wants to see them?” Her voice was full of doubt.

“Yes. Not only them, but also those outside the valley. I’ve already ordered someone to bring them in.” Chuchen sounded calm, but inside he was anxious, unsure if the excuse would work. He could only take it one step at a time.

“Are you mad? Didn’t I tell you? Aren’t you afraid they’ll provoke your master and trigger her old illness?”

“Elder, this is the sect master’s order. Are you going to disobey?”

“I dare not, but I must confirm at the back mountain first.” Meng Lan gave Chuchen a deep look, then instructed those nearby, “Watch them carefully—no one is to leave!” She shot Chuchen a warning glance and left, sleeves swishing. Yaoyao, on Chuchen’s signal, followed from a distance.

Once Meng Lan had left, Chuchen spoke coldly, “All of you, stand guard outside the door.”

The people in the courtyard looked troubled, exchanging glances, unsure what to do.

“What, you won’t obey me either?”

Finally, someone yielded to Chuchen’s authority and retreated outside. The others followed suit; after all, the sect would eventually belong to the young master, and offending him now could have consequences. The last one thoughtfully closed the courtyard gate.

Only then did Chuchen take a porcelain bottle from his bosom and toss it to Yue Zhanpeng, hastily explaining, “This is the antidote to the Skill-Dispersing Pill. Take it, then try to circulate your internal energy; your martial arts will return in moments. I can only stall Elder Meng Lan for so long. Once you recover, take Lian Yue and leave quickly.”

Yue Zhanpeng looked gratefully at Chuchen, took a pill without hesitation, and passed the bottle to Yu Wenmo and Zhou Man. He said with reluctance, “Big brother, third brother, I leave Yue’er in your care. Take her away first, no matter what. I must see Ah Yue once, to understand her situation.”

“But…”

Lian Yue looked at her father’s determination, unsure how to persuade him. Sensing through her special bond with Chuchen how precious time was, she turned pleading eyes to him.

Though Chuchen admired her father’s resolve, now was not the time. He decided to tell the truth.

“About master’s condition, I’ll be brief. If you have questions, I’ll find a chance to explain at Meilan Garden later. But now, listen carefully.” Chuchen looked solemnly at Yue Zhanpeng. “I don’t know if you knew, but Bloodcry Palace’s art requires severing all affection. Love is a deadly poison for anyone cultivating it.”

The four listeners were stunned, unable to believe it, but all remained silent.

“Master fell in love back then; each childbirth required forbidden arts to survive. Now, the forbidden arts have backfired, and her mind is on the verge of collapse. The memories of loving and knowing you have been sealed for safety. So even if you could see her, I would stop you. I can’t risk what your presence might do. I advise you to leave now, I fear Elder Meng Lan might act against you for the sect’s sake.”

Yue Zhanpeng was struck dumb, sinking into deep remorse. So this is how it is… I caused Ah Yue’s suffering. Lian Yue was also terrified, her face pale as a flower.