Chapter 118

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

In which a lot of mahjong is played.

<hr>

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

Ren Shaotian and Ye You’s parting last time definitely could not be counted as pleasant.

At that time, Ren Shaotian was rattled by the knowledge that Ye You was poisoned and vomiting blood, while Ye You had caused his blood and energy to churn for the sake of confirming Ren Shaotian’s identity before then directly suppressing the person and throwing the other to Elder Mei. It was only later that Ren Shaotian learned from someone else’s mouth that they were blood-related brothers — luckily he had always been concerned about Ye You, so he accepted this relationship without the least bit of resistance.

On the way back, he often thought of Ye You.

Twenty years ago, Ye You had still been a child, and he should’ve grown up living a life of  ease and comfort, bereft of any worries, but he had instead wound up having to bear his entire clan’s blood debt without warning. He had needed to hide from Wei Haide and them in order to continue living, to plan his chessboard, and to establish the Demonic Sect. Ren Shaotian was unable to fathom at all how Ye You had been able to go on.

At the same time, he also understood why Ye You had gotten so angry that day.

If it had been him, he also probably wouldn’t be able to take it.

He looked at the person in front of him.

Perhaps because that grand revenge had been achieved, at this moment, Ye You wasn’t giving off even the least bit of that hostile sharpness. Looking like this, the person actually appeared a bit well-behaved. When Ren Shaotian regained his senses, he had already involuntarily stood up and grabbed this person’s wrist — he didn’t have his old memories, but for whatever reason, he felt his heart ache.

Ye You faintly paused, allowing his hold.

Ren Shaotian said, “I still can’t remember anything from my childhood.”

Ye You said, “I know.”

Ren Shaotian said, “What if I’m never able to remember?”

Ye You said, “Then that’s also all right.”

Actually, the fact that his big brother was still so concerned about him even without memories already left him very satisfied.

The mahjong game definitely couldn’t be continued. Wenren Heng signaled to those elders and left the room to these two brothers.

Right as they left the room, they saw that Sir Yang had come.

When Sir Yang finished speaking to the young master, he had originally wanted to return to his room, but on the way back, he looked out upon the Yang family’s snow-dyed residence and remembered that this was something that Wei Haide had helped build. Immediately feeling awkward, he thereupon personally went to Huayang City to invite the best master craftsman, wanting to let this person come look at the residence in preparation to make some changes come spring. And he had only just now returned home.

He said, “I heard the steward say that Ren Shaotian… I mean big brother has come?”

Wenren Heng said, “Yes, he’s inside.”

Sir Yang hesitated for a moment and looked at him inquiringly.

Wenren Heng said, “They’ll probably want to talk for a while.”

Sir Yang also had this premonition and so didn’t enter the room, deciding to take the master craftsman to walk around the residence first.

Ye You heard the voices from outside and so told his big brother about how he recognized Sir Yang as his little brother. Ren Shaotian naturally wouldn’t have any objections. He remembered that day when Ye You had taken that person away, he had also followed behind by jumping into the river, and had even carried Ye You back. He couldn’t help but feel somewhat rueful; at that time, he could’ve never imagined that matters would progress to this degree.

Ye You saw that his face had bandages and asked, “What did Miracle Doctor Ji say about your wound?”

Ren Shaotian said, “He said it can be healed.”

Ye You felt slightly more relieved and said, “You look a lot like our father.”

Ren Shaotian touched his face and said in a soft voice, “Really?”

Ye You made a sound in agreement. “Really alike.”

Ren Shaotian didn’t have the least impression and let out a sigh in his heart, though he didn’t show it on his face, before asking, “What about you?”

“I take after our mother,” Ye You said, “Miracle Doctor Ji says I also look a lot like our maternal uncle. I just don’t know who I look like more.”

Ren Shaotian had heard some rumors and asked, “I heard that he and Cong Yun?”

“I just know that Cong Yun fell in love with him but that the love wasn’t successful. As for the specific details, I don’t know anything,” Ye You said, “Perhaps Miracle Doctor Ji knows, but I didn’t ask.”

Cong Yun was, after all, Miracle Doctor Ji’s first disciple, and so no matter what, there’d still be some feelings left. And since now the person was already gone, with everything settled, Ye You didn’t have any desire to investigate further.

Ren Shaotian nodded and then began chatting of some other things, including about Wei Jin joining the Demonic Sect, about what the righteous faction was going to do with those captured people, and so on. Only at the very end did he speak of the events that happened when he and Elder Mei went to investigate his “homeland” before then turning to the topic of removing the drug. Sir Yang’s drug had already been mostly dealt with, so for the most part, Elder Miao and Young Miracle Doctor Fang had been examining the people of “Moon’s Shadow”. But this matter largely depended on luck, so they were completely capable of stopping for a while so as to help Ren Shaotian get rid of the drug first.

Ye You asked, “You just returned, so why not rest first…”

“No need,” Ren Shaotian knew what he meant and interrupted, “Let’s do it today.”

He wasn’t someone who’d be too afraid to face the truth. Since he had already confirmed that his past was a lie, then he definitely wanted to know the truth.

Ye You said, “Then all right, I’ll arrange it.”

He paused for a moment before saying, “Ding Xilai left with Wei Jiangyue.”

Ren Shaotian stilled for an instant. “I already know.”

Just now while they had been playing mahjong, those elders had divulged this matter to him, most likely fearing that he’d worry.

He had grown up in Lingjian Pavilion and had experienced all kinds of emotions there. Although he didn’t want to admit it, he wasn’t, after all, a cold-blooded person, and having been with Ding Xilai for this long, when he learned that Ding Xilai had been tossed away by Wei Jin, with life and death unknown, he had still been somewhat concerned.

Ye You was also clear on this and so had decided simply to take the initiative to tell him.

Ren Shaotian added, “I know in my heart.”

If he was really the eldest son of the Yang family, then his master-servant relationship with Ding Xilai was probably going to end here, and he wouldn’t linger over it.

Ye You glanced at him and ultimately couldn’t endure the impulse to reach out a hand to hug him.

Ren Shaotian’s heart trembled slightly, and he pulled the person into an embrace.

The smoke from the incense burner spiraled upwards, while the snow outside continued to fall.

In a sudden flash, Ye You felt as if he was inexplicably able to see the Yang family residence from that year. As the snow fluttered through the air, a child was firmly holding onto another child who was shorter than him by a head, walking forward one step at a time, carefully and strenuously, stepping over the stone road that had become soaked with snow.

He closed his eyes. “Brother.”

Ren Shaotian tightened his hold and made a soft sound in answer.

Matters quickly proceeded apace.

That afternoon, Elder Miao and Young Miracle Doctor Fang entered Ren Shaotian’s room with the medicine.

That year, Wei Jin had needed more than a month to remove the drug’s effects completely. But Ren Shaotian’s innate abilities were higher than Wei Jin’s, and Elder Miao and them had already helped Sir Yang remove the drug once already. Thus, with this now being the so-called ‘third time’s the charm’, they felt that things should proceed much more smoothly this time.

Ye You watched for a while and, upon seeing that he couldn’t be of much help, then left to find his Senior Brother.

Wenren Heng was currently in the study taking care of Shuangji Sect affairs, and his tender expression was especially heart-warming.

Ye You’s mouth flicked up into a shallow smile, and he moved forward, wanting to tease a bit, but he then saw an invitation that had been placed on the table. Picking it up, he discovered that it was sent by Qin Yuemian, saying that the other wanted to invite his Senior Brother to drink some wine. He raised a brow. “It’s only some drinking. Did he need to send an invitation?”

Wenren Heng put down the things in his hand and asked, “How is it over on your brother’s side?”

Ye You said, “I don’t know. They’re still working on it.”

Wenren Heng pulled the person into an embrace while also giving a few pats.

Ye You raised the invitation. “There’s definitely a reason why he’s looking for you.”

Wenren Heng laughed and said, “You didn’t notice before that he and Lady Tao were walking a bit too close together?”

Ye You startled. Previously, Qin Yuemian had always been talented but self-effacing, and his appearance was entirely that of a prodigal son. And since Lady Tao’s sound-killing technique was able to break through the white piece’s flute commands, she needed someone to protect her, so Qin Yuemian had always feigned being infatuated with beauty in order to be close to Lady Tao. He really hadn’t thought much of it.

He asked, “You’re saying…”

Wenren Heng said, “Ah-Mian has those kinds of intentions.”

Ye You said, “What about Lady Tao?”

Wenren Heng said, “Perhaps I’ll know after we finish drinking that wine.”

Ye You laughed out loud, sounding playful. “This lord will also go.”

The moment those two words “this lord” came out, Wenren Heng knew that his Junior Brother wanted to go and stir up trouble.

After all, all the people in Jianghu knew that Sect Master Ye and Lady Tao had that kind of unclear, ambiguous relationship, especially since Lady Tao most likely truly did have favorable feelings towards his Junior Brother at one point, so during this critical juncture, there was no way that Qin Yuemian would be happy to see a certain person appear. He said, “Careful, if Ah-Mian’s really unhappy to see you, he might just cut you down.”

Ye You laughed in a way that practically begged for a spanking. “He can’t win against me.”

Wenren Heng was helpless and said, indulgent, “True. Let’s go.”

“I feel that this matter of his is sure to succeed,” Ye You said, “The date on here says after the new year. The fact that he’s notifying you this early means that he definitely wants you to leave that day empty specifically to drink with him. Those friends of yours have most likely also received the same invitation.”

Wenren Heng was also thinking the same thing and said, “If it goes smoothly, we might be able to drink at their wedding feast next year.”

Ye You looked at him. “Didn’t Senior Brother say before that you wanted to marry as early as possible? When will I be able to drink at Senior Brother’s wedding feast?”

Wenren Heng pulled him close and let out a low laugh next to his ear, saying, “I’ll listen to my wife.”

Ye You corrected, unafraid of death, “Call me husband.”

Wenren Heng’s response was to lift the person up and press him down on a nearby couch.

 

The household servants woke early to sweep out the snow, occasionally also discussing a few things in a low voice. All the talk was about the eldest young master who had arrived yesterday.

It was a pity, however, that the eldest young master’s face was covered with bandages, so none of them were able to see the other’s appearance. But since he was related by blood to Sect Master Ye, they thought that he wouldn’t look too different. Otherwise, that Elder Mei who had arrived together with the eldest young master was truly a beauty, and they wondered if she was going to become the next Madam.

Ren Shaotian had always woken early and had coincidentally heard this sentence, immediately falling speechless.

Elder Mei had also awoke.

Over this period of time, she had needed to keep watch of Ren Shaotian and basically had no time to play around. Now that she was finally free, she then impatiently put on a lavish dress. Standing among the snow, she appeared incomparably beautiful, and the household servants all couldn’t quite pull their eyes away.

Elder Mei completely disregarded the gazes of those in the surroundings and, upon seeing the nearby Ren Shaotian, smiled in greeting. “Brother Shaotian, good morning.”

The household servants followed her line of sight and only then discovered that the eldest young master was also actually around. They immediately didn’t dare to continue looking at Elder Mei, internally thinking that the eldest young master was truly worthy of being the Vice-Captain of “Moon’s Shadow”! He’s indeed incredible, able to walk without making a single sound!

In this interval, Elder Mei had walked over to Ren Shaotian.

Ren Shaotian smiled and said, “Morning.”

Elder Mei asked, “How do you feel? Remember anything?”

Ren Shaotian shook his head. “How can it work this quickly?”

“That’s true,” Elder Mei said in approval. She spun around in a circle, raised a brow, and laughed. “How is it? Beautiful?”

Ren Shaotian sincerely praised, “Very beautiful.”

Elder Mei was very happy and was preparing to also go to her colleagues and spin around when, at this time, she heard two people in the corner discussing a female dancer from Hualai Pavilion[1], saying that one rendition of the Feihua Dance[2] was able to captivate people’s spirits. She immediately became interested and interrupted to ask, “Is it the lead entertainer?”

The people speaking were two from “Moon’s Shadow”, and upon seeing her, they startled before answering, “No, we heard it was a newcomer. Isn’t it almost year’s end? The proprietor wanted…”

They suddenly paused mid-speech as they became aware that the person in front of them was a young lady. Feeling that it was quite inappropriate to talk about a brothel with the other party, they then stopped entirely. Elder Mei also didn’t ask any further because it was clear that the proprietor’s reasons were simply for the sake of more business.

She looked at them. “Are you two going tonight?”

The two from “Moon’s Shadow” hastily waved their hands and forced out a laugh. “No, no, no, we’re not going.”

Elder Mei looked towards Ren Shaotian. “Brother Shaotian, what about you?”

Ren Shaotian said, “What do you think?”

Elder Mei looked at his current appearance and knew the answer. Throwing down a single, “Then forget it,” she then went back to looking for her colleagues, her figure quickly disappearing.

Today, Ye You had dawdled in bed as per usual, but upon remembering that his big brother was here, he then crawled out of bed a quarter of an hour before breakfast started and went to the dining hall together with his Senior Brother. The group of people boisterously ate breakfast together, and after the meal, Ren Shaotian followed Elder Miao and them back to the room, while the rest then went their separate ways to work. A day thus unwittingly passed like this.

During winter, night arrived earlier.

By the time they began eating dinner, it was already entirely dark outside.

Wenren Heng and his Junior Brother were walking shoulder-to-shoulder, and they had just reached the anteroom when they heard an alarmed “Ah!” resound. The two raised their heads and discovered that three people were standing over there — Ren Shaotian, Elder Mei, and a young servant girl.

Elder Mei had changed into masculine clothing who-knew-when and, at this moment, currently had a hand outstretched, gripping the young servant girl’s waist and softly saying, in a voice deeper than usual, “Roads are slippery because of the snow. Be careful.”

The moment the young servant girl saw this bewitching appearance, she immediately turned blank.

Elder Mei steadied the person, soft emotions in those eyes. “Did you receive a fright?”

The young servant girl abruptly regained her senses and, with cheeks turning red, shyly said a single, “No,” before then running off.

Wenren Heng, “…”

The nearby Ren Shaotian, “…”

Elder Mei very quickly noticed the Sect Master and them and walked over with a smile, every movement carrying with it a distinguished air as the person said in greeting, “Sect Master, Madam.”

Ye You nodded.

In contrast, Wenren Heng made a sound in acknowledgment, while he internally assessed her, discovering that, with those masculine clothes, there didn’t appear to be an air of femininity around her at all.

Elder Mei said, “No need to leave us dinner. We’re going out to eat. Let’s go.”

She then called out towards the room and Elder Baili and Elder Ji then hurriedly ran out. The three put their arms around each other’s shoulders and left under everyone’s strange gazes. Wenren Heng watched as their figures disappeared and then gave his Junior Brother an inquiring look.

Ye You laughed. “Senior Brother, there seems to be one thing that I never told you.”

Wenren Heng said, “What?”

Ye You said, “Of our Demonic Sect’s Elders, none are women.”

“…” Wenren Heng thought of the beautiful Elder Mei and was extremely speechless. “He’s a man?”

“That’s also not entirely accurate.” Ye You saw that his big brother had also come over and so then entered the dining hall with both of them as he asked, “You should’ve heard of yin-yang people[3] before, right?”

Wenren Heng was surprised. “He is?”

“Yes, so that’s why I said that she’s faced many hardships in the past,” Ye You said, “When I saw her the first time, her clan members had taken their anger out on her because of a long-running drought. And because they found her too different, they then stripped her of clothes and hung her up, wanting to burn her alive.”

Ren Shaotian asked, “And then?”

Ye You said, “I saved her.”

Ren Shaotian asked, “Why?”

“She neither cried nor made a sound and simply watched her clan members. Although her entire body was full of injuries and she was on the cusp of death, she wasn’t giving off any sense of defeat.” Ye You said in a soft voice, “Big brother, if you had seen her at that time, you definitely would have also saved her.”

He walked over to the table and looked at Sir Yang, “They didn’t say where they were going to go?”

Sir Yang had also seen the Elder Mei just now, and his entire face was stiff. “It seemed like Elder Mei wanted to go to the brothel to see that female dancer, so Elder Baili and them decided to go with her.”

Ye You laughed. “Then let’s still leave some food for them.”

Sir Yang didn’t understand why, but he still left a word of instruction to the steward. Sure enough, the next day, he really did hear about how those three Elders had huddled together in the kitchens in the middle of the night to eat a meal. He was even more flabbergasted and couldn’t help but ask Elder Baili.

At this time, these people were once again playing mahjong with Brother Shaotian.

Elder Ji sighed. “You really should have come with us to see. Every time Xiao-Mei’s a man, she’s much too disastrous, as if there were lures in her eyes.”

Elder Baili’s heart still held some lingering fear. “Not just disastrous, she even attracts women like flowers attract butterflies. The dancer and lead entertainer were both dazed to distraction, looking only at her the entire time. The other guests weren’t too happy about that and almost joined hands to beat her up.”

Elder Ji said, “And we’re still not done. Last night just so happened to be the sale of that female dancer’s first night, and the person just persistently stared at Xiao-Mei the whole time without ever looking away. There was a young master from who-knew-where who got so angry that he rushed over wanting to drive Xiao-Mei away. Goddammit, we still hadn’t even eaten.”

Elder Baili said, “Just so. If it was as usual, then that young master would’ve been able to get that female dancer by just throwing around his money. But it’s all because Xiao-Mei likes to show off too much, and in the end they still ended up fighting. Ah, what a disaster. We shouldn’t have gone with her!”

Elder Ji said, “That’s right!”

Sir Yang, “…”

Ren Shaotian, “…”

A creak sounded, and the door opened.

Elder Mei had changed back into a beautifully splendid dress, once again becoming a woman, and asked, “What are all of you talking about?”

Those people said in unison, “Nothing.”

Elder Mei walked over and sat down next to Ren Shaotian. “How does Brother Shaotian feel today?”

Ren Shaotian said, “Still all right.”

Elder Miao interrupted on the side, completely full of confidence, “There’s no problem with the medicine’s baseline. We can definitely remove the drug.”

And it was just like Elder Miao and them had anticipated. The removal of the drug for Ren Shaotian went quite smoothly, and he didn’t feel the least bit unwell. Thus, within these ordinary days, Ren Shaotian played mahjong with those Elders and occasionally faced Ye You across the chessboard while having a few, brief conversations; it was a rare, peaceful period of time.

Half a month quickly passed by. On a certain night, Ren Shaotian washed up and went to bed, sinking into a deep, deep sleep right as he closed his eyes.

He saw a vast and expansive residence, endlessly lively. Although he had never seen it before, for whatever reason, he found it all very familiar.

He walked a few steps and, upon hearing some messy footsteps echo behind him, couldn’t help but turn back. He then saw an exquisitely adorable child reaching out a hand and calling out to him, “Brother, brother…”

The child very quickly ran over and, in the next moment, had thrown himself into the other’s embrace.

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

<hr>

[1] 花來閣 lit. flower arrival pavilion.

[2] 飛花舞 lit. flying flower dance.

[3] 陰陽人 Briefly touched upon in an earlier aside. This is another way of saying intersex, but since intersex is a modern term, I opted to just translate it directly.

<hr>

I’m actually inexplicably mad at the author for never once referring to weiqi (Go) as weiqi and always just calling it generically “qi”. Like, yes, it’s probably weiqi, but I can’t discard the possibility of it being xiangqi either, so I end up having to think of a way to say “they played a chess-like game” in readable English.

Like this:Like Loading...