Chapter 59 Benefactor [Second Update] "I am deeply grateful to you, young master, for saving my entire Yunze clan..."
Looking at the scene before him, Mu Meng realized that Yunze Realm had clearly been the site of a chaotic battle, with almost everyone bearing injuries.
For some reason, Zhe Qing was also here, and even took a fatal blow for Brother Jiu Yan. Not only did she suffer severe internal injuries, but her body was also subjected to secondary damage.
Mu Meng's eyes sharpened, and he instantly drew the software from his waist, heading straight for the ball of black energy.
The entire Yunze Realm united to fight the enemy; their power was no joke. Add to that the unfathomable expert Zhe Qing, and they still couldn't subdue this monster. Mu Meng narrowed his eyes, secretly channeling the full power of the Crimson Heart Pill. His soft sword pierced the black mist, moving so fast it left only a blur.
She didn't know how long she could fight, or whether she could wait for stronger reinforcements, but at this moment, she was the only pillar in the entire field, and she couldn't fall down no matter how hard she tried.
Upon first exchange, Mu Meng's wrist was numbed by the terrifyingly powerful spiritual energy of the black aura. Her mind sharpened, and she immediately focused all her attention on dealing with it. She spun her longsword in a circle and stabbed the thing twice in the throat and twice in the heart in an instant.
But this thing was shrouded in dark mist, and it was unclear whether it was even human. Mu Meng could only guess its location, but seeing that its momentum was undiminished, it seemed to be having little effect.
However, the black mist seemed to sense something the next moment, abruptly stopping all its movements and halting in front of Mu Meng—
In that instant, Mu Meng was absolutely certain that beneath the surface of this black mist lay a person.
She could even feel his eyes staring at her, scrutinizing her carefully and maliciously, a gaze that made her extremely uncomfortable.
Mu Meng flicked her wrist and swung her sword again, the sword intent cold and gleaming, like a shooting star, one move barely completed before another arrived. However, suddenly, the black aura withdrew its hand, abandoning its fight with her, and took three steps back.
Mu Meng knew his abilities; he didn't stop attacking because he was no match for her. Judging from his expression, it seemed he was about to leave.
Sure enough, the black mist moved the next moment, as if it had turned around. Mu Meng's heart sank. He immediately threw out a white silk ribbon and headed straight for the black mist. But he was prepared. He slid backward. Although the white silk ribbon was moving very fast, it was still a zhang away from him. The black shadow retreated to the edge of Yunze Realm and rushed into the sky.
At this moment, Zhe Qing finally regained some strength and woke up from the state of being unable to hold on to the black spots and golden light. As soon as he looked up, he saw that the black mist was about to escape, and he immediately braced himself with his bamboo stick as if he was about to get up and chase after it.
"Stop chasing!" Mu Meng clenched her fist and pulled her arm inward, the white silk instantly returning to her palm. She turned around and saw Zhe Qing's movement, and couldn't help but whisper a warning.
Seeing the black mist disappear into the vast night sky in two leaps, Zhe Qing's brows furrowed, and he actually stood up, propped himself up with a bamboo stick, and ran forward without a care.
Mu Meng was startled and rushed forward, grabbing his bamboo stick in two strides. "Are you out of your mind?!"
She frowned and said, "This thing is very strange. It clearly had a chance of winning, but for some reason it ran away. If you chase after it alone, you will definitely die."
Unaware of her own presence, Mu Meng carried a hint of sweet osmanthus fragrance, and her clear eyes held a touch more allure than before.
Zhe Qing paused for a moment, then somewhat blankly retracted the bamboo stick. "Why are you drinking..."
He only said a few words before suddenly falling silent, his expression a mix of melancholy and unspoken longing.
Mu Meng thought he was getting stubborn, so she said again, "Just listen to me, don't take on everything."
Yun Qing quickly ran forward, and several respected uncles and elders surrounded him. They all advised, "Yes, don't chase after it. That monster is so powerful. We need to plan carefully before catching it. Young Master, you are seriously injured. You should take care of yourself first. If you lose your life because of this, how can we live with ourselves?"
Yun Jiuyan also came over. Besides worry, his face was filled with deep shame. His lips trembled a few times, but he couldn't say anything. He slowly lowered his head.
Zhe Qing looked worriedly at the distance where the monster had disappeared, her brows furrowed: "But he—"
"No buts, anyway, that thing has long since disappeared. Zheqing, you're in this state, treat your injuries first." Mu Meng lowered her eyes and stared at the wound on his chest, the bloodstains had already spread, staining his entire clothes red. The hem of his clothes was also covered in blood and flesh, one could imagine the pain that must have been from the severed limb scraping against the ground.
A while had passed, and it was indeed impossible to catch up now. Zhe Qing gripped the bamboo stick tightly with her long, strong hand and said nothing more.
The sweet fragrance and subtle aroma emanating from the girl beside him lingered in his nostrils. Zhe Qing's expression faltered for a moment; as if lost in thought, his lips gradually turned deathly pale.
Suddenly he slowly pursed his lips, slightly hunched his back, and took a deep breath almost imperceptibly.
After a moment of silence, Yun Jiuyan finally found his voice. His eyes were a little red, and his gaze lingered on Zhe Qing for a few moments before reluctantly looking away. "I'm sorry, if it weren't for saving me, you wouldn't be injured like this, I..."
“You don’t need to apologize,” Zhe Qing glanced at him, shook her head to interrupt, and tried to keep her voice calm and gentle. “Saving you was my own choice. What did you do wrong?”
He pursed his lips, then lowered his head as well, his voice very soft, "I can't let you die in front of me, it's what I should do, you don't need to blame yourself."
Although he appeared quite disheveled, he spoke with composure and an air of refined elegance, showing no arrogance whatsoever. He effortlessly distanced himself from being his savior in just a few words.
Yun Qing and the elders exchanged glances, and the next moment, they all turned their heads and bowed deeply to Zhe Qing:
"We are deeply grateful for your noble act of saving our entire Yunze clan. We will do our utmost to repay this great kindness in the future."
“No…no need for thanks,” Zhe Qing paused slightly, took two steps forward with her bamboo cane, and personally helped Yun Qing up. “Lord of the Realm, you are too polite. This is what I should do. Please rise.”
His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, but his tone was very sincere.
His hands trembled slightly, but after helping Yun Qing up, he immediately withdrew them, clenching them into fists at his sides to cover it up.
He repeated that it was what he should do, and Mu Meng chuckled to himself: Most people who act chivalrously only go so far as to say it's what they should do, and even if they say it's just a formality, it's merely a self-satisfied attempt to cover up their true intentions. This man, on the other hand, risked his life to protect Yunze Realm, and without hesitation, stood in front of Brother Jiu Yan. His serious injuries were only due to good luck; if he had been even slightly off, he probably would have had to trade his life for his own.
To act as a chivalrous person to this extent far exceeds the bottom line of "what should be done".
However, he always underestimated himself, as we already knew when we first met. Mu Meng shook her head, then saw Yun Qing stand up and turn to look at her: "Mengmeng, thank you too. Where were you hurt when you fought that monster earlier?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Uncle Yun, don't worry."
"Ah, that's good," Yun Qing nodded with satisfaction, his gaze shifting between the two of them. Remembering that Mengmeng had called this person Zhe Qing earlier, they obviously knew each other before, so he asked with a smile, "Mengmeng, is this Young Master Zhe Qing your friend?"
Mu Meng opened his mouth, about to answer yes, but Zhe Qing spoke first in a low voice: "No."
Mu Meng then said with a half-smile, "No. We've only met once and exchanged a few words."
"If it's not true, then it's not true." Mu Meng looked at the relieved look on his face after she denied it, and really thought he was beyond saving.
"oh……"
Uncle Yun is getting on in years, and when he talks, there are always things he can't keep in mind. Mu Meng gently advised, "Uncle Yun, you are both injured, so don't stand here. Go back to your room to heal and rest."
Everyone was injured to some extent, but Zhe Qing was the most seriously injured. It was unclear whether it was because his spiritual power was evil or because of some special reason in his body, but he had been able to stand for so long with his chest pierced by black energy and his breathing was still relatively stable.
"Yes, yes, yes. Look at me, young master, please go first." Yun Qing immediately realized his mistake after being reminded by Mu Meng, and bowed respectfully with a sense of shame.
Zhe Qing nodded gently, but stepped aside slightly to make way. "You're too kind, Lord. I am but a lowly person. How could I dare to trouble you to invite me? Please go ahead."
Yun Qing still looked grateful. After offering a few words of advice and seeing that Zhe Qing was extremely polite, he called Yun Jiu Yan to help him up. Mu Meng glanced at Yun Jiu Yan and couldn't help but stop him, saying, "Brother Jiu Yan, you are also badly injured. Let A Pei help you. You don't need to worry about Zhe Qing. I will help him."
"No need, I'm fine." Zhe Qing immediately shook his head in refusal, gripping the bamboo stick tightly and even taking a half step back.
Mu Meng knew, of course, that he wouldn't obediently stand by and let her help him, so she didn't waste any words with him and walked straight toward him.
Zhe Qing was startled and quickly waved his hand. His gaze fell on Mu Meng's clean and white Liu Xian dress, and his thin lips trembled slightly, "Really, it's not necessary. I'm not clean, so don't get your clothes dirty."
He pursed his lips and said seriously, "Besides, since that evil thing is no longer here, I shouldn't disturb you all any longer. Farewell."
He wasn't joking. As soon as he finished speaking, his spiritual power surged, intending to escape from here using his superb and skillful magic, just like last time.
Mu Meng was prepared and was just waiting for this move. Unexpectedly, he reached out and grabbed Mu Meng's bamboo stick, frowning and shouting, "Why are you running?"
Yun Qing was almost startled—good heavens, if Mengmeng hadn't acted quickly, how could he have a clear conscience if his savior had just left like that?
He smiled with a mixture of shame and gentleness, rubbing his hands together: "Young master, you can't just leave like this. If you don't mind, you should at least stay here to recover from your injuries."
Mu Meng interjected, "I know your code of conduct: you never linger after punishing evil and eliminating wickedness. But the situation is different now. You are so seriously injured. If we just let you go, what will become of Yunze Realm's reputation for ten thousand years? People will gossip behind our backs, saying that they are ungrateful and mistreat their benefactor."
Zhe Qing was not so easily fooled, but Mu Meng did not expect that he would bite his lip lightly and say, "Everyone here is a member of the Yunze clan. There are no other people here, so how could a bad reputation spread? Don't worry, I came and went voluntarily, and I won't say a word to outsiders."
Well, the first half of the sentence is somewhat human, but the second half is really nonsensical—no, that's not what she really thinks of him.
Mu Meng ground his back teeth, looked at his pitiful appearance covered in blood, hesitated for a moment, and generously decided not to hold it against him.
He leaned closer and whispered, "You don't know that. These uncles and elders are so old-fashioned and pedantic. Even though there are no outsiders here, they can't help feeling guilty. They might even issue a letter of self-reproach to announce it to the world in order to find you. When word gets out, they'll be sour and restless, and you won't be able to have a peaceful life either."
Zhe Qing listened quietly, then suddenly smiled.
As if thinking of something, he shook his head, his smile deepening until it revealed a row of neat, white teeth.
Realizing that Mu Meng was still looking him over, he quickly suppressed his smile and said in a low voice, "Okay."
He refused to let Mu Meng help him, and Mu Meng didn't try to persuade him further. He simply stayed by his side and escorted him all the way to his room in Yunze Realm.
Upon reaching the door, Mu Meng glanced at the lock, smiled slightly, and was about to explain, "The doors in Yunze Realm are different from those elsewhere; they are actually..."
As soon as she began to speak, Zhe Qing's hand gripped the beast head on the door lock, and with a gentle pull, the door opened.
Mu Meng blinked: "How did you know to open the door like this?"
Zhe Qing paused for a moment, gently put the beast head back in its original position, gripped his bamboo stick tightly with his other hand, and said with pursed lips, "This lock is called the Beast-Attracting Lock. I... used to play in a place with locks like this when I was a child, so I know it."
So that's how it is. Mu Meng nodded. This kind of lock is very rare. She had only ever seen Yun Zejing use such a lock since she was a child. She thought Zhe Qing wouldn't know, but it seems she was overthinking it.
However, Mu Meng was a little curious: "Did you have time to play when you were young? With such high spiritual power, I thought you had to study and practice diligently all the time."
Zhe Qing smiled and said, "Yes."
Yes, people do look better when they smile. Even someone like Zhe Qing, with her appearance, has a smile that is like a gentle spring breeze, carrying a strange sense of warmth.
Mu Meng led Zhe Qing into the house and asked him to sit on a bench. He instructed him, "People from Yunze Realm will be here soon to treat your wounds and apply medicine. If you are not used to it, have them leave the medicine here and wait for me to come back. Also, do not attempt to treat the penetrating wound in your chest yourself. Calm your internal energy first. I will go and check on Uncle Yun and the others, and then come back to help you treat it."
She was also a guest here, and it wouldn't be appropriate for her to stay here and take care of him. Besides, there was a difference in the degree of intimacy. Although Zhe Qing's injuries were more serious, she was still more concerned about her brother Jiu Yan and all the uncles and elders.
Mu Meng initially felt a little bad about leaving Zhe Qing alone here for the time being, and only wanted to go and come back quickly. But then she saw Zhe Qing look up in surprise and say softly, "You'll come back?"
"Of course." They've met twice, so what image does she have in his mind? Is she really that cold and unapproachable?
Zhe Qing was very understanding and smiled slightly, saying, "Alright, Your Highness, please go ahead. There's no need to worry about me here."
Mu Meng raised an eyebrow slightly, thought about what he had just said, and said with a hint of teasing, "Don't run away, I will definitely come back to heal your injuries later."
"Okay, I won't run."
Mu Meng smiled at him, turned and left, closing the door behind her. After her footsteps had completely disappeared from sight, Zhe Qing slowly exhaled.
She finally left.
He slowly knelt on the ground, his hands tightly covering his injured area.
In the empty room, he finally no longer had to struggle to stay upright, his body curled up, trembling violently. Cold sweat soaked his hair from his forehead, even trickling down his chin and dripping onto the floor.
A penetrating wound that hits the heart is extremely dangerous.
The scent of wine emanating from Mengmeng hinted at the presence of a loved one she had shared a drink with, and a deep, heart-wrenching pain began to rise within her.
The Soul Shattering Dream is about to activate...
Zhe Qing rolled on the ground in pain, his left leg stump scraping against the ground, and his clothes near the knee were stained with more blood. He tilted his head back and let out a muffled groan.
His green robe and black hair were disheveled, his face was deathly pale, and his pupils were unfocused. Finally, Zhe Qing raised his arm to his lips and bit his wrist hard. Instantly, blood flowed down from where his teeth met his flesh.
He thought of Gui Chengzi, and the words he had said to him when they parted.
"Do you know what treasures are hidden in this Seventh Realm?"
"Do you know what price you will have to pay to have your shattered soul and fragmented body completely repaired?"
The mangled left hand was turned over, and Zhe Qing trembled as she looked down at the red line on her index finger. Originally, the red line was only as long as the fingertip to the second joint, but now it had grown to the base of the finger. The thin red line ran through the entire finger, and even a head was faintly emerging as it continued to move downwards, getting one step closer to the heart.
After looking for a long time, Zhe Qing slowly curled her fingers, placed her hands on her knees, closed her eyes, and silently pursed her lips.
...
Since Uncle Yun's injuries weren't too serious, Mu Meng went to see Yun Jiuyan first.
Yun Jiuyan's chest and back were slashed by the black energy. The bleeding had stopped, but his face was extremely pale. After the physician bandaged his wounds, he ignored the instructions and stood up to leave.
As soon as Mu Meng entered and saw him, she quickly reached out to stop him and helped him to a chair: "What are you doing? You're so badly injured, where are you going?"
"Mengmeng, how is Young Master Zheqing? I want to go see him," Yun Jiuyan said anxiously, his usually bright eyes looking dull and lifeless. "He risked his life to save me, and I feel terrible about it..."
Mu Meng smiled slightly. Of course she knew that Brother Jiu Yan was simple, kind, and sincere. Now, not only had he been saved, but he had also witnessed the other person suffer terrible injuries. How could he not feel guilty?
She said gently, "Brother Jiu Yan, Zhe Qing is right. You don't need to blame yourself. He saved you, so you should just be grateful and repay him if you have the chance in the future. Why keep blaming yourself? Wouldn't that go against his original intention?"
Yun Jiuyan paused slightly, slowly raised his eyes, and nodded gently: "Yes, Mengmeng, you are right. I hope that Young Master Zheqing will not suffer any lasting illness, and I also hope that I will have the opportunity to repay his kindness in the future."
Mu Meng's smile deepened. She knew that her brother Jiu Yan was not the type to wallow in grief. He understood immediately. "Take good care of yourself. I just came back from Zhe Qing's place. Although he took a blow to the chest from that monster, his life is not in danger."
Zhe Qing's spiritual power is strange, and it's impossible to tell which realm it belongs to. However, the world is vast and full of wonders. The fact that he has such good fortune and is not in danger of dying despite being seriously injured is reassuring.
Yun Jiuyan nodded thoughtfully, blinked, and hurriedly said, "Even if Young Master Zheqing is exceptionally talented, we still need to give him a thorough check-up, lest he have any hidden ailments."
"I know, Uncle Yun knows too, don't worry about it, just focus on getting better."
Yun Jiuyan hummed in agreement, slowly lowered his eyes, and then raised them again after a while, gazing quietly at Mu Meng.
After watching for a while, I suddenly felt that the little girl in front of me was both familiar and unfamiliar.
Mengmeng's appearance is actually no different from before; she is still beautiful and gentle, only a little more spirited than when she was a child. The difference is that she is no longer the silly little girl who just followed behind her brothers.
She can rush to Yunze Realm alone in the dead of night, or take care of guests when the elders are all injured. She can even sit in front of him, soothe his emotions, and tell him not to worry.
The innocent and naive little girl from my memory can now stand at the forefront of battle; her frail shoulders can now bear things heavier than she once carried.
Yun Jiuyan moved his lips, his gaze somewhat complicated, but the corners of his lips curved slightly: "Mengmeng, you've changed."
Mu Meng didn't understand at first, then raised an eyebrow and smiled, "What's changed?"
“You’ve grown up, and you’re different from when you were little. When you were little, you didn’t think about these things, and no one was willing to let you share these burdens.”
Mu Meng smiled with lowered eyes, let out a long breath, and looked up at the ceiling: "When I was a child, I looked up at the starlight, as if I could reach out and pluck it. Now, at seven feet tall, the sky is beyond my reach."
She sighed, then asked again, "I've changed. Do you think it's better or worse?"
“Of course it would be good,” Yun Jiuyan replied without hesitation. “If you had stayed the way you were before, that would have been great, but your current appearance is even more gratifying.”
Once, she was a delicate flower, and he cherished her dearly, wishing only to grow up quickly so he could protect her under his wings. But now, she is a phoenix soaring through the vast heavens, free to roam.
He was no longer able to protect her, nor could he catch up with her.
Perhaps due to his serious injuries, Yun Jiuyan looked somewhat dejected: "Mengmeng, I know I'm no longer good enough for you. You've transformed and grown, but I'm still the same, stagnant."
Mu Meng smiled slightly, then her face turned serious and she said, "That's not how it is."
That's not how it works.
If her life hadn't taken a turn for the worse, perhaps she would have been like the carefree little girl in Jiu Yan's words, forever pampered and protected by her older siblings, loved and cared for by her elders, never knowing what sorrow was, never having to think about what to do, and never having to understand responsibility and commitment.
But she has experienced tremendous changes, climbed out of the abyss, and looked back after going through countless trials. Naturally, her mindset is different from before.
Brother Jiu Yan was the same. In his previous life, his family suffered a great change. Overnight, the innocent and bright boy turned into a gloomy demon full of hatred.
It's not that he's incapable of growing up, but rather that he hasn't had the opportunity to grow up—she only hopes that he will never have to grow up this way.
In this life, if her father and sister hadn't lived happily and peacefully, if none of the Heavenly Clan had been injured or killed, if everyone she cared about hadn't been unharmed—she probably would have followed in her brother Jiu Yan's footsteps without hesitation, and even been more insane and ruthless than him.
Fortunately, everything she loves is still intact. She doesn't need to carry the burden of hatred; she only needs to let go of the past to truly be reborn.
After thinking for so long, Mu Meng finally smiled and said, "Brother Jiu Yan, don't underestimate yourself. You don't know how precious you are now. Yunze Realm is my second home. We grew up together. You are the closest brother to me in this world."
The implication is that there is no question of whether they are a good match or not; they are family.
Yun Jiuyan lowered his head and thought for a moment, then finally raised his face and smiled, "I understand, Mengmeng, thank you."
Mu Meng felt relieved that he was taking things in stride. After spending some time with him, she told him to get some rest and then went to visit Yun Qing.
Yun Qing wasn't seriously injured, but many of his uncles were critically wounded and in life-threatening condition, so he was still dealing with the wounded and arranging various affairs. Seeing Mengmeng arrive, he greeted her with a smile, "Mengmeng, what brings you here?"
He stepped forward and said, “You don’t need to worry about me. Uncle Yun wants to ask you to check on Young Master Zheqing for Yun Ze. Right now, your Brother Yun is seriously injured and unconscious, and Jiu Yan is also bedridden and unable to move. I’m worried that Young Master Zheqing will think that Yun Ze is being negligent. I can only ask you for help for now. I will go there in person as soon as I’m done with my work here.”
He assumed Mengmeng was with Young Master Zheqing, so he didn't go over and dealt with his own affairs first. He didn't expect that the girl would still politely come to see him first.
Upon hearing Uncle Yun's words, Mu Meng chuckled in disbelief—neglect? Would Zhe Qing even have those two words in her mind? If one day she could see Zhe Qing feeling neglected by others, then she would have truly broadened her horizons.
Mu Meng only grumbled inwardly and didn't say it aloud. She just nodded and said, "Okay, Uncle Yun, don't worry. Zhe Qing would never think that way. He knows how badly you are injured. I'll go see him later." She looked around and asked, "How is Ze'er? I can't see him."
“Ze’er is fine. If he were injured, Uncle Yun would be too embarrassed. He’s sleeping in my room right now.”
Mu Meng was relieved. "That's good. I'll go check on Zhe Qing first."
"Hey—wait a minute, Mengmeng!" Yun Qing suddenly remembered something and quickly reached out to stop her. He opened his mouth to speak, then paused, his eyes sweeping over the surrounding attendants, "You all go down first."
After everyone had left, Mu Meng looked at Yun Qing's solemn expression—he rarely appeared so dignified and solemn, and from his expression, one could tell that what he was about to say was probably quite troublesome.
Mu Meng also subconsciously became serious: "Uncle Yun, what happened?"
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