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In which we learn some things about the monster and his relationship to the white piece’s family.
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Ye You’s first reaction was to leave the fort.
But right before he went, he left behind some instructions, saying, “If the monster returns in a while, all of you tell him that me and my Senior Brother took a troop of people to circle around to the front to cut them off.”
The Fort Master was shocked. “He’d still come back?”
Ye You said, “He’ll inevitably come back.”
The Fort Master said, “Why?”
Ye You said, “Because I’m here.”
The Fort Master was even more shocked. “Ah?”
Ding Xilai and that crowd of Junior Sect Masters were all huddled near the entrance to the gates, and upon hearing this, they ran over to look at him, all of them wanting to know what was going to happen later.
Ye You gave them a look. “All of you just have to stay in your rooms without coming out, and he won’t touch you.” As he spoke, he looked at the Fort Master, “You as well. It’ll be fine if you just send someone to answer his questions. Don’t go tempting fate for no reason, in case he ends up killing someone on a whim in a fit of anger.”
For now, the Fort Master didn’t respond and instead looked towards Xie Junming, “Big bro, what about you?”
Xie Junming said, “Of course I’m going with them.”
The Fort Master said, “Then I’ll go too.”
Ye You said, “Fort Master…”
“Sir Xiao, I just want to be with my big bro; I’m not going because of you.” The Fort Master had interrupted him while still looking at Xie Junming, but those who knew the truth could tell that he was speaking to both Ye You and Xie Junming. “Brothers should naturally share in both their blessings and their hardships together, so since I’ve learned of these matters, I can’t just sit on the sidelines. In other words, do you think of me as a brother?”
I’ll allow it, though Ye You didn’t bother to say it.
Xie Junming said, smiling, “I think of you as a brother, but what will you do with these subordinates of yours?”
The Fort Master said, “I’ll listen to you. If you let me bring them, I’ll bring them all.”
Xie Junming said, “No need. Let’s go then.”
Ye You also didn’t want to waste too much time. In the end, he shot that crowd of people near the entrance a glance, “Remember, great plans can be ruined by just a touch of impatience.”
When he finished speaking, he went to his Senior Brother’s side.
Wenren Heng held him firmly by the waist and, along with Xie Junming and the others, used some lightness skills to travel a fair distance, following the current and flying over the river surface until everyone had reached the opposite shore. Their figures quickly disappeared into the forest.
Ding Xilai and the others watched as they got far away and then began walking back one after the other.
“What did Sir Xiao’s final words mean?”
“‘Great plans can be ruined by a touch of impatience.’ You don’t even know what this means?”
“I meant that he seems perfectly fine right now so why would he suddenly say those words to us? Could he be worried that we’d come out? How could we?”
“Ah, that’s certainly true…”
The group looked at Ding Xilai, feeling as if the words were spoken to him. After all, Ding Xilai was often together with Sir Xiao, and this fact was well known to everyone.
Under their stares, Ding Xilai felt completely at a loss, but he didn’t show it on his face, appearing unfazed as he returned to his room to drink a cup of tea. Only then did he sluggishly think of a possibility and hastily looked at Ren Shaotian.
Ren Shaotian said, “What is it, young master?”
Ding Xilai pulled him over to a small corner to squat down and asked, in a low voice, “Do you think that Sir Xiao has guessed that you like him?”
Ren Shaotian’s lips twitched. “…No.”
Ding Xilai said, “Or else why would he say that? In the past, when he went out to handle business, he’s never spoken like this, but he’s starting to say such things now, after you rescued him. It’s obvious that he’s afraid that you’d do something in a moment of recklessness, isn’t that right?”
Ren Shaotian, “…”
The Wei Jin who was standing behind them, “…”
In the end, sunset shining bright across the horizon gradually faded, and the forest turned dark.
The cries of nameless birds echoed through the skies, sounding one after another, distant and desolate.
Manor Lord Wei did not know how far away he had rushed, and when those in front stopped, they were already in the deepest depths of the forest.
The trees towered high above, reaching towards the clouds, and the light was dimmer than outside. The elderly man was standing in front of a tree, pursuing his lips, and looking at the person he had grabbed. Half his face was hidden within the shadows and couldn’t clearly be seen.
Wei Jiangrou was practically about to faint from fright, and her whole body trembled as she said, crying, “Dad, save me!”
Manor Lord Wei walked over, wanting to pull the person back, but upon noticing that the other had on a tight hold, said in a low voice, “Brother[1], you’re scaring her.”
The elderly man’s expression moved slightly, and only then did he let go.
Wei Jiangrou ran to hide behind Manor Lord Wei at once, not daring to come out. Manor Lord Wei patted his daughter’s hand in a show of comfort as it gripped his own. He introduced, “He’s your aunt’s friend.”
Wei Jiangrou immediately startled. “My aunt?”
Manor Lord Wei said, “Yes.”
Wei Jiangrou was somewhat dazed, but before she could speak, she heard the Alliance Leader scoff.
The Alliance Leader’s skill was ordinary, and his level of martial arts was unable to match either the elderly man’s or Manor Lord Wei’s.
If he had relied on his own strength to follow them, then he’d definitely have been left behind a fair distance, even possibly caught by that crowd of people from the righteous faction. So, previously, the elderly man had doubled back once and taken both him and Wei Jiangrou onward, only throwing him down when they reached the forest. The Alliance Leader thus had to hurry to catch up alone for a portion of the way, and only now did he manage to reconvene with them.
He mockingly looked at Manor Lord Wei. “I really never thought that you’d even be able to sell your own daughter.”
Manor Lord Wei sighed and said, “Jiangyue was kidnapped.”
The Alliance Leader startled. “What?”
“You still don’t understand?” Manor Lord Wei said, “We never kidnapped Xiao-Zhong. It’s clear that Ah-Xiao was trying to drive a wedge between us, and now even Jiangyue has been kidnapped.”
The Alliance Leader said, with a cold voice, “Then even if I’ve misunderstood on that front, how would you explain wanting to turn my master into a drugged man?”
Manor Lord Wei said, “That’s completely them trying to mislead you.”
The Alliance Leader said, “But Cong Yun keeps adding to the efficacy of the drug. Why didn’t I know about this fact before?”
Manor Lord Wei said, “I also didn’t know.”
The Alliance Leader said, “Who are you trying to fool?”
“I’m telling the truth. Why don’t we go confront Cong Yun together,” Manor Lord Wei said, “It’s not like you don’t know Cong Yun’s personality. He’s always been attached to those drugged men; who knows how far he wants to take it. What’s more, if I really wanted to move against Brother, I could just directly let Cong Yun pass over some drugs to knock Brother unconscious and lock him up. Then I’d be able to drug him however I want, right?”
The Alliance Leader examined him and, after a moment, said, “Then Xiao-Zhong…”
Manor Lord Wei said, “He’s definitely in Ah-Xiao’s hands.”
Wei Jiangrou became even more stunned upon hearing their words, and she looked at them in alarm. “Dad, what… what are all of you talking about?”
Manor Lord Wei regained his senses and studied his daughter’s pale face. He patted her head, consoling, before then signaling to these two and taking Wei Jiangrou a bit further away. The elderly man’s gaze continuously remained on Wei Jiangrou, and only now did he ask, “Who’s Ah-Xiao?”
The Alliance Leader said, “He’s Wenren Heng’s Junior Brother. We suspect that he’s the mastermind of these recent events.”
The elderly man said, “Then I’ll go capture and question him.”
The Alliance Leader said, “Let’s discuss it a bit first. Anyway, it’s not like the person can run away while he’s over there.”
The elderly man’s face was still expressionless, and after nodding, he returned to looking at Wei Jiangrou. Upon seeing this, the Alliance Leader’s mood was complicated, though, in the end, he didn’t disturb the other, retreating half-a-step to stand quietly behind.
Wei Jiangrou was supported into sitting on a dead tree trunk by Manor Lord Wei.
Upon seeing that Manor Lord Wei was about to stand back up, she hastily grabbed his sleeve in anxiety. Manor Lord Wei paused slightly and then decided that he might as well sit down next to her. Immediately following, he heard protesting snaps echoing out in succession, as if the seat would break apart at any moment.
Manor Lord Wei, “…”
Wei Jiangrou, “…”
Wei Jiangrou was the first who was unable to endure and smiled through her tears.
Manor Lord Wei helplessly stood up. “I should just stand then. I’m too fat.”
Wei Jiangrou raised her head to look at him. “Dad…”
“He’s someone who was rescued by your aunt a long time ago.” Manor Lord Wei knew what she wanted to ask and so carefully explained to her, “At that time, his family lived at a village where our family’s old residence was. He’s had no mother or father since young and didn’t get on well with others. Because of certain reasons, that year your aunt went to that manor and saw him being chased and beaten up by a crowd of kids, so she saved him and brought him back to the manor to heal for a time.”
Wei Jiangrou nodded. “Oh.”
Manor Lord Wei said, “He has a cold disposition and is completely engrossed in learning martial arts, without any concept of right or wrong. The only one able to appear in his eyes is your aunt; your Uncle Zhong and us all need to stand to the side. As for other people, to him, there’s no difference between them and mere plants and animals.”
Wei Jiangrou said, “Towards my aunt, he…”
“Nobody knows, but I don’t think it’s like that. When your aunt got married, he didn’t react at all,” Manor Lord Wei said, “So he also won’t treat you like that. For him, you’re just like your aunt’s child. Perhaps he’ll even look after you in the future. If you want something, he’ll give it to you, and if you want someone to disappear from the world, he’ll make whoever it is disappear.”
Wei Jiangrou’s gaze flashed for a moment, but she quickly hid it.
Manor Lord Wei looked at her. “Xiao-Rou, what do you want to do?”
Wei Jiangrou bit her lips and, after a moment of hesitation, said in a small voice, “I want Brother Heng.”
Manor Lord Wei said, “I know you do. But he doesn’t like you.”
Wei Jiangrou said, “Then what if…”
Manor Lord Wei gently interrupted her, “‘What if’ what?”
Wei Jiangrou shook her head. “No… I-it’s nothing.”
Manor Lord Wei lowered his eyes to look at her, internally guessing that this little girl wanted Ah-Xiao to disappear or to be captured in order to blackmail Wenren Heng.
He had watched Xiao-Rou grow up, and sometimes he couldn’t help but concede — of his blood, the good portion had been entirely inherited by Wei Jiangyue, while the remaining cold portions had all gone to Wei Jiangrou. Thus, whenever she met any obstacles, the first thought in her mind was always how to eliminate the other party.
Although he felt that, with this temperament, she wouldn’t suffer from any hardships when she was married off, he actually didn’t wish for his own daughter to be too vicious.
For his daughter, it’d be fine if she was able to find someone sincere to take care of her, who’d pamper her just like him, and live a simple and easy life.
From the start until now, he had raised Xiao-Rou with this goal in mind, and he’d never let her encounter any impediments. However, now, he had no choice but to allow Xiao-Rou contact with that monster, and when she realized how useful that monster could be, he really didn’t know what kind of things she’d do.
He said, “Xiao-Rou, I also don’t like Ah-Xiao, and I’m looking forward to someone being able to get rid of him, but there’s a principle that you should know — the melon that is forcefully broken from the vine will not be sweet[2].”
Wei Jiangrou said, in a low voice, “I know.”
Manor Lord Wei said, “If you know, then give up on Xiao-Heng.”
Wei Jiangrou said, “But I like him. I believe that as long as I try hard enough, he’ll definitely like me back.”
Manor Lord Wei said, “What if that still doesn’t work?”
Then he still needs to be mine, Wei Jiangrou bit her lips and, in the end, didn’t dare to say those words out loud, instead changing the topic, “Dad, are you the white piece?”
Manor Lord Wei stilled for a moment and said, “Yes.”
Wei Jiangrou said, “Why?”
“I have my own hidden hardships. I’ll explain all of it to you in the future,” Manor Lord Wei said, “You only need to know that your dad is still your dad, and that Fengxian Manor also won’t change.”
Wei Jiangrou said, “Oh.”
Manor Lord Wei watched as his daughter didn’t change her attitude in the slightest and let out a sigh in his heart before again patting his daughter on the head.
If it was possible, he truly wished that Xiao-Rou could change dispositions with Wei Jiangyue for a moment. If it had been Wei Jiangyue who was here, the other would’ve definitely started fighting with him. He said, “Let’s go, we’re going back.”
Wei Jiangrou held his hand dependently as they walked back. She looked at the elderly man far away and suddenly became aware of one thing. She asked, “Dad, then are we still returning to the fort?”
Manor Lord Wei said, “We’re not going back there for now. I need to resolve this first.”
Wei Jiangrou said, “Then Brother Heng…”
Manor Lord Wei said, “Xiao-Rou.”
Wei Jiangrou lowered her head and didn’t continue speaking.
In another part of the forest, the Fort Master finally learned the entire sequence of events.
“Then you’re saying that… the Zhong family’s kid is actually in your hands, since all of you were trying to drive a wedge between them before, and now they’ll come look for you when they’ve finished talking it out?”
Ye You said, “Yes. What’s more, they’ve always wanted to kill me. Right now, with that monster here, there’s no better opportunity. If that monster kills Wei Jiangrou, then his relationship with Manor Lord Wei will collapse, and if he doesn’t, I’ll be the one out of luck, as both Wei Jiangrou and Manor Lord Wei want me dead.”
The Fort Master felt crazed. “Then what’re you going to do?”
Ye You narrowed his eyes. “I have an idea, but it’ll be a little risky.”
The Fort Master said, “Let’s hear it and see.”
Ye You was silent for countless moments before licking the corners of his lips and explaining his idea. He ended with a look towards his Senior Brother.
Wenren Heng’s expression didn’t change, and he asked, “How certain are you?”
Ye You said, “More than half. And my martial arts are still here, so I can deal with it.”
Wenren Heng leaned back against a tree and fell silent, not speaking.
Ye You looked at the surrounding people.
Xie Junming looked at him and took the lead to turn around and leave. The rest stared blankly for a moment before they suddenly understood and also left, one after the other, leaving the space to the two of them.
Ye You said, “Senior Brother.”
Wenren Heng said, “I’m not convinced.”
Ye You said, “I know. I’ll be careful.”
Wenren Heng looked at him with lowered eyes. Ye You considered for a moment before turning back to check that those people all had backs facing the two of them. He then took the initiative to approach his Senior Brother and kiss the other on the lips. Wenren Heng used a hand to grab his waist, turning around to press him against the tree, deepening the kiss, and taking the chance to use another hand to reach inside his clothes.
Ye You slightly startled. “Senior Brother.”
Wenren Heng pressed him down, continuing to kiss him despite it all.
For a while, Ye You was stiff before slowly relaxing his body.
Xie Junming and the others waited and waited and very quickly heard a muffled sound. Elder Baili and the Fort Master looked at one another, both somewhat hesitant. Xie Junming conversely didn’t have any misgivings and was the first to turn around. He then actually saw Wenren Heng coming out while carrying Ye You.
Immediately, he understood that that muffled sound was Wenren Heng taking the opportunity to knock the person unconscious and raised a brow. “You…”
Wenren Heng said, “I’d be crazy if I agree to let him go.”
He handed the person over to them and said, “Look after him. I’ll go.”
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[1] 大哥 lit. big brother. Coincidentally, this is the same term that Ding Xilai uses to refer to Wei Jin.
[2] Manor Lord Wei has said these exact same words before, regarding Wei Jiangrou, in chapter 23 (though that time he was speaking to Wei Jiangyue). In case you forgot, this phrase means, “If something is meant to happen, it’ll happen; don’t try forcing it, or you might ruin everything.”
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Man, the desire to punch Manor Lord Wei is strong in this chapter… What a nasty guy. I almost feel sorry for Wei Jiangrou here since she’s clearly being manipulated by her dad. She’s actually quite pitiful, if you think of it that way.
(I also hard disagree with Manor Lord Wei about how Wei Jiangrou inherited all his bad sides — no, you raised her this way, you dick!)
<del>I really hope this is a case of the author writing character voices that she doesn’t agree with, because the things Manor Lord Wei thinks about his own daughter is Pretty Terrible.</del>
Also, even if Wei Jiangrou is a lowkey sociopath like Manor Lord Wei seems to be implying ([insert hard eye-roll here]), she’s still a far better, and more honest, person than Manor Lord Wei, who claims to be a good guy, but continuously does terrible things (which he knows are terrible) for his own gains. (Like here where he tells his daughter to let go of Wenren Heng when he CLEARLY wants her to fuck over Ye You — why else mention that the monster can make anyone disappear if she wanted? — but he doesn’t want to say that out loud, since that would make him a Bad Guy™.) That kind of bald-faced hypocrisy really pisses me off.<del></del>