Chapter 81 The Curse "The one who cast the curse is a branch of the imperial lineage."...
As they were talking, they suddenly heard a noise at the door. Turning around, they saw that Sheng Yuanting had arrived.
He was dressed in light black armor, without even changing out of his everyday clothes. This attire would definitely look a bit strange in the human realm. Mu Meng took a few steps to greet him and asked with a somewhat embarrassed smile, "Brother Sheng, was my letter a bit rushed? Why didn't you change your clothes?"
"No, I was just handling some business in the west, which isn't far from here, so I came straight here." Sheng Yuanting smiled, looked up and saw Zhe Qing standing there, and gave a slight bow. "Young Master Zhe Qing is here too. It's been a long time."
Zhai Qing smiled and returned the greeting.
Mu Meng briefly mentioned the matter of the curse, and Sheng Yuanting frowned upon hearing it: "For someone from my Celestial Clan to be subjected to such an evil spell as a curse, this is simply unheard of... Are you sure there isn't a mistake?"
Mu Meng said, "Whether there is a mistake or not, it is up to you, Brother Sheng, to determine."
She paused, then said hesitantly, "But wait a moment, I need to go in and say a few words to that girl first."
Sheng Yuanting didn't ask any further questions, and nodded gently, saying, "Alright, I'll wait here. Call me when it's ready."
Mu Meng smiled and responded before turning and leaving. Sheng Yuanting turned to look at Zhe Qing—the last time they parted, they had come and gone in a hurry and hadn't even exchanged a few words. Now that he was seeing his savior again, he was naturally very pleased and was about to ask about his recent situation when he suddenly noticed that Zhe Qing seemed to be slightly lost in thought.
"Young Master Zheqing, have you encountered some trouble? If you don't mind, could you tell me so I can help you?" Sheng Yuanting asked frankly.
Zhe Qing nodded slightly and smiled gently, "Thank you for your concern, General. I have nothing to be troubled about. It's just that I heard Her Highness the Princess tell you about the curse... The person who cast the curse is actually a member of the Celestial Clan. I was a little incredulous for a moment."
The Celestial Clan has always enjoyed a virtuous reputation throughout the Six Realms, and everyone respects them. It is normal for them to find it hard to believe such a thing. Sheng Yuanting said in a low voice, "Yes, although I don't believe it either, the young princess is a person of principle. Since she summoned me here, she must have some confidence in her heart."
Zhe Qing nodded silently, not in the mood for further conversation.
He quickly went through his memories of his clansmen, but still couldn't find a clue. While he couldn't say that everyone in the Celestial Clan was upright and righteous, even if there were a few selfish individuals, they would never be so ruthless as to use curses.
Such a vicious person, is he still alive? Who exactly is he? Is he with Mengmeng?
Zheqing's brows furrowed with deep worry, but in addition to worry, there was also a strange yet real sense of unease deep within her.
...
When Mu Meng returned to the door, Feng Xixue was standing to the side holding a bowl of medicine. The rising steam from the medicine seemed to cover his expression with bitterness. When he saw Mu Meng coming over, his eyes lit up slightly.
Mu Meng quickly stepped forward: "Have you been waiting long?"
“No,” Feng Xixue shook her head, looking helplessly at the door like a stray dog longing to go home after being abandoned. “Sheng Sheng is awake.”
Although the door was closed and there was no sound from inside, Mu Meng could sense that the person inside was no longer breathing slowly and gently, and must have woken up.
"Okay, give me the medicine, I'll go in and check on Sheng Sheng. You..."
Feng Xixue hurriedly said, "I'm right outside." He hesitated, seemingly wanting to go in and see Yu Sheng, but afraid of scaring her, so he didn't dare say anything.
Mu Meng understood his feelings. In the end, it was because he loved her too much that he was afraid of causing her any trouble. She whispered, "I will comfort Sheng Sheng. She is very strong and well-behaved. She won't keep you waiting for too long."
Besides, Brother Sheng is here, and we'll have him examine Sheng Sheng to see who is responsible for the curse. If Sheng Sheng is in good spirits, we'll let Feng Xixue come in and see her too.
Thinking this, under Feng Xixue's expectant gaze, Mu Meng knocked on the door and softly called Yu Sheng's name. Only after receiving a low response from inside did he push the door open and go in.
*
Yu Sheng sat on the corner of the bed, hugging a quilt. She was very petite and thin, with a blank look on her fair face. When she saw Mu Meng coming over, she slightly curved her lips and her big, bright eyes showed some color: "Sister."
Mu Meng sat on the edge of the bed, and before she could speak, Yu Sheng hurriedly asked in a low voice, "Sister, have the officials come to cause you any trouble?"
Mu Meng saw the worry in her clear eyes and understood that she wasn't worried about herself, but about her.
He couldn't help but hold her hand and gently comfort her, "No one's coming, don't worry. Even if some fool comes knocking, we won't suffer any losses."
She was quite confident. Feng Xixue was devoted to guarding this place and hadn't yet had the chance to deal with those people. If anyone dared to come looking for her first, she feared they wouldn't be able to withstand her. Besides, Lu Zhaoxin was watching over things. No matter how powerful the Emperor of the Human Realm was, he couldn't be greater than the Ghost King.
Seeing Mu Meng's nonchalant tone and confident manner, Yu Sheng felt somewhat less guilty. She looked at Mu Meng gratefully for a moment, then said awkwardly, "Sister, please forgive me. I shouldn't have been so rude as to ask your name, but I was truly blind and didn't recognize you..."
She was at a loss for words. This woman was kind, charming, and exceptionally beautiful, with an air of superiority; she must be a woman of great renown. But perhaps she was too inexperienced, for she couldn't recognize her at all as the daughter of a noble family.
She looked apologetic and nervous, and even a little silly. Mu Meng felt both sorry for her and amused. She didn't say much, but simply introduced herself: "My name is Mu Meng, but everyone calls me Mengmeng. You can call me that too."
Yu Sheng nodded seriously, and without asking any further questions, she obediently called out, "Sister Mengmeng."
"Come on, drink your medicine first, it'll get cold soon." Mu Meng smiled and picked up the medicine in front of him. He scooped up a spoonful and was about to blow on it to feed it to her when Yu Sheng took the bowl with both hands.
"I can do it myself." She smiled at Mu Meng, picked up the bowl and drank the bitter medicine in one gulp. The medicine was so bitter, but she didn't even frown. Then she obediently placed the bowl on the small table by the bed.
Delicate yet not spoiled, she truly evoked pity. Mu Meng glanced back at the doorway without leaving a trace; Feng Xixue's figure was still standing there, motionless.
Mu Meng thought for a moment, "Sheng Sheng, just stay here and take good care of yourself. Everyone in this courtyard is Meng Meng's friend. They are all good people and would never hurt you. You don't need to be nervous or afraid here, okay?"
Yu Sheng nodded with pure and trusting eyes: "Yes, I know."
Mu Meng couldn't help but pat his head and said softly, "Also, if you feel anything is amiss or have any requests while you're staying here, just say so. You can talk to anyone here."
"No, no," Yu Sheng immediately shook her head and whispered, "Sister Mengmeng, you're too good to me. I don't know how to repay you... If you don't mind, I'll be your maid and serve you from now on, okay?"
Mu Meng sighed silently in her heart, "Don't talk nonsense. You are a good girl and deserve to be treated gently. Don't think about repaying me. As for being a maid or something, don't mention it again. Don't worry, I will definitely get things done, and I won't cause you any trouble. So if you need anything, be sure to tell me, okay?"
Yu Sheng nodded blankly, her slender white hands clutching the corner of the blanket. After a long while, she stammered in a low voice, "Sister Mengmeng, there is something I do have. My...my mother...she should be in Yongzhou, I think..."
Upon hearing this, Mu Meng immediately understood. "Okay, don't worry, this is not a difficult matter. We will definitely rescue your mother safely."
Yu Sheng breathed a slight sigh of relief, her eyes filled with gratitude. She struggled to get out of bed to greet Mu Meng, but she was covered in bruises and could not withstand any more exertion. Mu Meng quickly stopped her and told her to lie down properly.
Looking at Mu Meng's gentle and beautiful face, Yu Sheng had a sudden thought and asked earnestly, "Sister Mengmeng, I know you must have a great background. Just now, I saw that you seemed to have some worries in your eyes, but you still stayed by my side. Is there anything I can do to help you relieve your worries?"
Mu Meng smiled, this young girl was delicate and timid, but also intelligent and perceptive. She said gently, "I wouldn't say I'm solving your problems, but I do have something to tell you."
Yu Sheng nodded repeatedly, waiting obediently for her to speak.
Finally, it was time to get to these things. Mu Meng pondered for a moment—neither Sheng Sheng's demon identity nor the curse she carried was suitable to be mentioned first. After all, Sheng Sheng had never encountered these things in the past ten years, and would definitely be confused if she heard them. She should first introduce the other races in this world besides the human realm, which would also make it easier for Sheng Sheng to understand what was to come.
Thinking this, Mu Meng used the simplest and most concise language to introduce the affairs of the Six Realms. At the end, she tentatively asked, "Sheng Sheng, do you... believe what I'm saying?"
Yu Sheng smiled and said, "I believe it. We also have many cultivators, and the current emperor highly values immortal techniques, so this is not the first time I've heard of them. Also, when you saved me, Sister Mengmeng, I saw you only move your finger. Now that I think about it carefully, I naturally believe that you are indeed a celestial being descended to earth."
Her clear, dark eyes were full of trust, even tinged with adoration and admiration.
Mu Meng couldn't help but chuckle, pinching her soft cheek. After a slight hesitation, he added, "So, Sheng Sheng, there's something else I need to tell you... Actually, you're not a true human. Your true form is a flower demon from the demon realm. You were poisoned by a villain and fell into the human realm's cycle of reincarnation. Now you have a curse within you. I'll ask my friend to come and take a look later, find the culprit, and avenge you, okay?"
This time, Yu Sheng took a while to process what she had heard. After all, there were some differences between that bizarre and fantastical world and the one she was a part of.
After a long pause, she nodded blankly and said, "Oh... okay."
Since Yu Sheng agreed, Mu Meng invited Sheng Yuanting over.
Seeing that Feng Xixue was still standing outside the door, his face even paler than before, she couldn't bear it and let him in as well.
“This man’s name is Sheng Yuanting, and he is the Xuan Tian General of the Celestial Clan,” Mu Meng introduced Sheng Yuanting, then pointed to Feng Xixue, concealing his identity, “He… he is called Feng Xixue, and he is my friend.”
After much deliberation, Mu Meng decided not to say much to Feng Xixue—after all, he was currently a stranger to Sheng Sheng, and suddenly revealing his feelings, deep love, and past entanglements might not be a good thing for her. It was better to let them get to know each other first, spend time together, and then bring it up again when the time was right.
Feng Xixue and Sheng Yuanting were both tall and imposing, with extraordinary bearing. Standing in the room, they made the room feel somewhat cramped. Moreover, their aura was not as gentle and soft as Mu Meng's, so Yu Sheng was obviously a little scared.
But because she was brought in by Mu Meng, she neither retreated nor dodged. Instead, she obediently and sensibly curtsied and tried to keep her voice steady: "Greetings, General Sheng, Lord Feng... Lord Feng."
Sheng Yuanting nodded slightly in return, saying nothing; Feng Xixue, however, subconsciously raised her hands as if to help her, but Yu Sheng had already finished her greeting, so he didn't dare to step forward and silently lowered his hands.
When Mu Meng saw Feng Xixue's gaze fall on Yu Shengxue's fair cheek, where there were still lingering bruises from finger marks, his eyes instantly reddened even more. He turned his head slightly to the side as if to cover up his embarrassment, pressed one hand to his chest with a trembling hand, and coughed violently a few times.
It's unclear how much he longed to hold his beloved girl in his arms, to heal her wounds and apply medicine, but he could only desperately suppress his desire.
Mu Meng met Yu Sheng's eyes, which were filled with doubt and worry, smiled reassuringly and shook her head, then exchanged a glance with Sheng Yuanting.
Sheng Yuanting understood and stepped forward, saying gently, "Miss Yu, I'm going to examine your soul later. Don't be afraid, I definitely won't hurt you. However, because the curse is imprinted deep in your soul, if you see any illusions later, don't panic. Those are just past events etched deep in your soul, it's a normal phenomenon."
Yu Sheng nodded in agreement, her hands clasped together somewhat nervously. However, because Mu Meng was beside her, she didn't show much fear on her face. She smiled slightly at Mu Meng and then closed her eyes.
Sheng Yuanting slowly raised his hand, his ring finger clenched, and stood about ten feet away from Yu Sheng. Wisps of spiritual energy gradually surrounded her.
A moment later, Yu Shengqing's elegant eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she moved a little. Her fingers, which were hanging by her side, curled up little by little.
Mu Meng had been watching from the side, and after a moment of stunned silence, she realized that this was probably what Brother Sheng meant when he said he would see some past events.
Feng Xixue was startled and subconsciously took two steps forward. In his eyes, it was as if the whole world had been stripped away, leaving only his beloved girl. His eyes were filled with tenderness and pain that were almost overflowing.
Mu Meng shook his head gently at him.
Feng Xixue naturally understood, and with a somewhat gloomy expression, she retreated.
After two incense sticks had burned, Sheng Yuanting slowly lowered his hand. He opened his eyes, his expression much more solemn than before. Seeing his appearance, Mu Meng felt a little uneasy: "Brother Sheng, what's wrong? Is there no result?"
"No, I do have some clues, but I need to verify them carefully."
Sheng Yuanting looked somewhat dazed, his brows furrowed as he spoke slowly. But no sooner had he finished speaking than Yu Sheng looked up at him, her clear eyes filled with confusion, helplessness, and a hint of inquiry.
She unconsciously took two slow steps toward Sheng Yuanting.
"Sheng Sheng," Mu Meng asked, puzzled, as she grabbed Sheng Sheng's hand. "What's wrong?"
Yu Sheng shook her head in confusion. She glanced at Mu Meng, then looked at Sheng Yuanting: "I don't know, but after the spell was cast just now, I saw some images... This General Sheng, I feel like I've seen him before..."
What? Mu Meng turned his head to Sheng Yuanting again.
Sheng Yuanting looked blank, then thought for a moment and said apologetically, "This is my fault. I can't remember where I saw you before. I hope you won't take offense."
Yu Sheng shook her head, and before she could speak again, Feng Xixue suddenly stepped forward—he hadn't spoken or moved since he entered the room, and now that he had suddenly come over, Yu Sheng felt a little scared and moved closer to Mu Meng.
Seeing her like this, Feng Xixue immediately stopped and even slowly retreated. He didn't say a word, but his gaze was heavy with sorrow.
Mu Meng felt that the situation was a bit strange. Something flashed through her mind, but it was too fast to grasp. She decided to think about it carefully later. "Brother Sheng, then you go and organize what you just found out. I will come to find you later. Feng Xixue, you... you can go out first too."
She took Yu Sheng's hand and led her to sit down on the bed, smiling as she touched her cheek: "Sheng Sheng, you rest for a while. I have some things to take care of. I'll come over and have dinner with you later, okay?"
Yu Sheng readily agreed with a smile: "Sister Mengmeng, go ahead, don't worry about me."
...
Mu Meng came out and closed the door behind her. She saw Zhe Qing and Lu Zhaoxin standing by the corridor not far away. She looked around as she walked over and said, "You two are here. Where is Feng Xixue?"
Lu Zhaoxin spread his hands innocently, indicating that he hadn't noticed, but Zhe Qing whispered, "Young Master Feng doesn't look well. He looks like he coughed up blood. He has a physical ailment and probably doesn't want others to see it."
Oh... no wonder. If Feng Xixue saw Sheng Sheng like that, she would definitely suffer a severe heart-wrenching pain.
Mu Meng nodded. Since she needed to wait for Sheng Yuanting's result, she sat down opposite the two of them.
With nothing to do, I let my mind wander to what had just happened: Sheng Sheng's soul was touched, what kind of past did she see, and why did she see Brother Sheng before? But Brother Sheng had no recollection of it. Logically speaking, he was exceptionally capable, and his memory was among the best in the Celestial Clan. He hadn't been to the Human Realm many times, so if he had seen Sheng Sheng, how could he not remember?
Mu Meng had been thinking absentmindedly when suddenly an idea flashed through her mind. She blinked and slowly raised her hand to stroke her chin—
Could it be...?
The idea seemed absurd to her, yet it also seemed quite believable. Mu Meng was stunned for a moment, then looked at the two people opposite her and asked, "Um... do you think Brother Sheng and Feng Xixue's voices sound a bit alike?"
She suddenly posed this question, and Zhe Qing and Lu Zhaoxin exchanged a glance. Lu Zhaoxin spoke first, "Hmm... I must say, it does seem quite similar. But Feng Xixue's voice is a bit lower, probably because he has experienced more tragic things and his voice has been worn down, so it's not as clear as General Sheng's."
Zhe Qing didn't speak; he lowered his eyes, looking thoughtful.
Mu Meng pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Don't you think that Brother Sheng looks about four or five points similar to Feng Xixue? Their eyebrows, eyes, and the lines of their profiles are... quite similar."
Lu Zhaoxin followed the train of thought, but not quite. He clicked his tongue and commented, "Well, good-looking people are good-looking no matter what. It's not surprising that they look a bit alike. But personally, I think Feng Xixue is better looking. His nasal bridge is higher, making his nose appear more prominent. As for his eyebrows and eyes... they are much more deep-set than General Sheng's. And his lips..."
Mu Meng was speechless, and slowly raised her head to stare at him.
Is she seriously debating who's prettier here?
Finally, Lu Zhaoxin stopped talking and, under Mu Meng's gaze, slowly met her eyes.
Zhe Qing reacted earlier than Lu Zhaoxin, and his expression had already become very serious.
"Oh no," Mu Meng muttered, pinching his brow. "...Oh my god."
What is going on here... I don't know what kind of illusion Sheng Sheng saw, but if it really is her past with Feng Xixue—maybe she didn't see it clearly. In addition, Feng Xixue was in his prime at that time, and he must have been very different from her in many ways. He was more similar to Brother Sheng.
No wonder Feng Xixue reacted so strongly and looked so pained just now. He's so perceptive; he must have guessed it.
Just as I was feeling troubled, Sheng Yuanting walked over with heavy steps.
"Brother Sheng, has there been any conclusion?" Mu Meng quickly put aside her chaotic thoughts, stood up and asked him.
Sheng Yuanting's expression was very serious. He nodded and said in a low, deep voice, "Your Highness, let's talk in private."
The two of them walked a little further away, and deep in the corridor, Sheng Yuanting pursed his lips: "Your Highness, when I was investigating the curse on Miss Yu Sheng just now, I was actually eight or nine parts certain, but it was so unbelievable that I had to verify it again in detail."
But he still had such a solemn expression, so the result must be quite astonishing. Mu Meng prepared himself and said seriously, "It's alright, just tell me."
"The one who cast the curse is indeed a member of the Celestial Clan, and from a branch of the Imperial lineage."
Sheng Yuanting spoke in a deep voice, each word seeming to strike the heart: "Because it is a branch of the imperial lineage, its status is so noble that it cannot be recorded in detail. I can only find out the affiliation of this spiritual power sect, but I cannot know exactly who it is."
Mu Meng was completely stunned.
A branch of the imperial lineage?
I initially thought this was just some wicked person from the Celestial Clan who acted against the natural order, but now it seems that things are not so simple.
The Imperial Lineage... She now understood why Sheng Yuanting had that expression—the Imperial Lineage didn't have many members, and she herself was one of them.
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