Chapter 42 Stepmother
"You've figured it out?"
Chu Wuding was somewhat surprised.
His attempts to gently guide the boy were all in vain; this young man was far calmer than he had imagined.
Before sadness and shock, reason always forced her to think, even if she should have let herself vent her emotions at that moment.
“I once thought so too. But I represent the Southern Qi, and I absolutely cannot appear in the territory of Lai. About fifteen years ago, she suddenly went mad again.”
"Have you verified this with Bian Yi? She comes from Qingluan Medicine Valley, so she might know the method to become a half-immortal. Therefore, she should be the most..."
Lin Chengye tapped his fingers incessantly on the stone table, extremely agitated. Bian Yi's astonishment that day seemed genuine; she was unaware of the true mastermind behind it all, and this person was not the same emperor she had previously believed.
Could it be that the destruction of Qingluan Medicine Valley and the Lin family had nothing to do with His Majesty? Were she and Bian Yi both wrong? No, that's not right... Lin Chengye hadn't figured out the connection between the two yet, and he made a mental note of it.
"I'm not sure if she knows about the methods of a semi-immortal, which is why I tested her that day. But I did ask her that question."
Chu Wuding narrowed his eyes, a hint of displeasure suddenly appearing on his face. The porcelain cup he was clutching in his hand instantly cracked, emitting a creaking sound as it succumbed to its weight.
"Bian Yi's exact words were, 'No, it's not Qin Ruoliu, don't go looking for her.' Then she refused to say anything more. Why hide things when she clearly knows more? And why did she insist that I not go to her? Doesn't she want to investigate the cause of the destruction of Qingluan Medicine Valley? Why does she always seem hesitant and unable to move forward..."
"Master Chu, when you became a half-immortal, did you never feel confused, regretful, or disgusted with yourself? If I want to know how you became a half-immortal, will you tell me frankly?"
Lin Chengye suddenly interrupted him, placing his fingers interlaced on his knees, and said calmly. Chu Wuding's expression immediately turned extremely ugly, his eyes filled with even more anger, and the porcelain cup was actually crushed into powder in his hand, the powder scattering into the air with the wind.
The air around them suddenly grew colder, but Lin Chengye remained unmoved and continued speaking.
“People are different. As for Bian Yi, she always blames herself for not being able to prevent the tragedy at Qingluan Medicine Valley. Therefore, she is always cautious and finds it difficult to be open about that past. There is no need for others to criticize her. As for the reason, I will ask her myself.”
"Then this humble Taoist will take his leave."
Chu Wuding had completely lost his initial ease and composure. As if Lin Chengye's words had touched a nerve, he stood up awkwardly, turned his face away, and waved goodbye hastily.
"Don't forget what you promised."
He was about to use his internal energy to rise when Lin Chengye's voice suddenly rose from behind him, like a gust of wind hidden in the shadows, somewhat sinister.
"Is Bian Yi a demigod?"
"...I'm not sure, she never admitted it."
Chu Wuding withdrew his strength and turned his back to Lin Chengye.
"But I still don't think she really isn't, after all, she has that ability. In fact, apart from the blood sacrifice, there are only a handful of people who can touch the limit barrier of the true ninth level of internal energy."
"Back then, Qin Ruoliu and Bian Yi were indeed too brilliant, and they definitely reached that threshold."
Suddenly, Chu Wuding turned his head, the moonlight reflecting a very complicated expression in his eyes. He stared at Lin Chengye and said.
"But all I can say is that all the sorcerers... are unforgivable sinners, including myself. If Bian Yi truly loves you, investigating the truth of this matter is fraught with danger; you can certainly use her. If she really is a sorcerer..."
The man didn't linger. He stepped onto the bluestone ground in the courtyard, and instantly leaped into the air, disappearing into the distance in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only a single sentence.
"He is not worth mourning."
...
After Chu Wuding left, Lin Chengye sat alone under the moon for a long time.
She thought about many things, and before she knew it, her straight back had slumped deeply, and she was half-lying on the stone table, panting. When no one was around, a deep weariness finally welled up in her eyes, and bloodshot veins, like bloody hands, stretched across the whites of her eyes, pulling at the blackness from side to side.
Who exactly is the person Mi Fan is talking about? If so, she must have successfully broken through, then wouldn't there be two demigods in Lai Kingdom now? Wouldn't the three-way division of the world that they've barely managed to maintain be broken again?
She was not afraid of war, but she also loathed it. When she traveled along the northern border, she witnessed and heard firsthand the suffering and cries of the people when war broke out.
The destruction of the Lin family was merely one step in that person's quest to reach the pinnacle of martial arts; it wasn't even worthy of being called a sacrifice. If Mi Fan hadn't still been alive and hadn't been held back by Bian Yi, that person's scheme would have been forever buried under the heavy snows of the northern frontier. All the deaths and injuries would be attributed to the word "war." Soldiers who died in war should have been willing to sacrifice themselves for their country and people, but instead, they became stepping stones for someone else.
Lin Chengye frowned. At this moment, some clues were already connected, and an absurd yet reasonable guess suddenly popped into his head.
Chu Wuding said that the semi-immortal is now more like a weapon in national warfare, and that's certainly true. Qin Ruoliu, Chu Wuding, not to mention Tuoba Sui, all three have incredibly close ties with their respective royal families.
The world.
Lin Chengye sat frozen in place, almost unable to believe his own deduction.
That makes perfect sense.
In his letter, Wei Jingchen told her that the Emperor of Lai Kingdom was seriously ill. The identity of that person remained a mystery, but that person must hold a high position of power in Lai Kingdom, and the entire affair could only have been carried out with the Emperor's tacit approval. Therefore, the person in that position sought far more than simply becoming a demigod.
Furthermore, how was she able to find out about these things? It's been so long, and even Chu Wuding was held back by something. That person was almost flawless in their calculations. Which link in the chain broke down and gave her the opportunity?
Cold sweat trickled down Lin Chengye's forehead, rolled down her throat, and landed on the stone table. A nameless nausea suddenly welled up inside her, and Lin Chengye covered her mouth and nose. In the silent darkness, it seemed as if countless bulging eyes were watching, observing everything.
Even continuing the investigation felt like another part of that person's scheme. Lin Chengye's eyes sharpened, and she took a deep breath. After briefly plunging into a quagmire of emotions, she was once again pulled back to shore by reason.
Those involved are all bound by certain unshakeable principles. Like Chu Wuding, who couldn't personally investigate for the sake of peace between the two nations. But Bian Yi doesn't adhere to such rules; perhaps, given her temperament, she really could storm the palace, point a sword at the emperor, and confront him directly. She's all alone, unafraid of death… but why didn't she?
Lin Chengye kept rubbing his temples, but he couldn't smooth out his furrowed brows.
Wei Jingchen.
Yes, Bian Yi said she had been searching for a very long time, looking for her master's daughter, Wei Jingchen. Bian Yi guessed that the child was most likely in the palace and dared not make any rash moves.
So... that's why Wei Jingchen has been confined to the palace and rarely leaves? The reason she was marginalized and treated as a transparent prince was not only because of her impure bloodline, but also partly because that person recklessly stormed into the palace while on guard against Bian Yi.
Lin Chengye sighed, recalling the day Bian Yi said that Wei Jingchen was her only concern, and that from then on she no longer needed to worry about him. It turned out she was already prepared to risk her life.
So this situation broke down when Wei Jingchen was demoted from the palace!
...
When Chu Wuding returned to the palace, Ji Gongyun was still handling state affairs under the lamplight. The young man's brows were furrowed, and his figure was reflected on the screen in front of him. She had already shed the elaborate imperial attire she wore during the day, but her aura remained extraordinary.
Lin Chengye's words reminded her that because of her trust in Mi Fan, she also believed Mi Cheng's words even more. She never expected that this man would dare to use her and the lives of 200,000 soldiers as a means to scheme against his truly loyal master.
Upon thinking of this, Ji Gongyun became furious, and his hand trembled, leaving a distorted ink stain on the memorial.
Hearing the noise, she rubbed her eyes, immediately stood up, and questioned in a cold voice.
"Where did you go?"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I was just out gathering some information, and I have come to report back to you immediately."
Chu Wuding narrowed his eyes and replied with a smile. He had been assisting Ji Gongyun since she was only up to his calf, and he had never slacked off throughout all those years.
Chu Wuding omitted most of the conversation with Lin Chengye, only saying that he was going to see A-Ye, and adding that the matter involved a lot.
"You mean Ah Ye might be the one to break the deadlock?"
Ji Gongyun sensed his concealment, snorted coldly, but did not press the matter.
"Yes and no. It's just that the person General Mi mentioned didn't include her in his calculations."
Chu Wuding considered it for a moment and then said.
“Ah Ye... she is already dead.”
"Your Majesty should bury General Mi Fan as soon as possible and focus on thoroughly investigating the matter of his father Mi Cheng's treason and collusion with the enemy... The investigation into the other two, A Ye and Bian Yi, will naturally continue; we do not need to interfere further."
"Aren't you even going to investigate who the person General Mi mentioned is?"
Ji Gongyun frowned in disapproval.
“That person must be a high-ranking and powerful figure in the Lai Kingdom.”
Chu Wuding suppressed his smile and said in a deep voice.
"However, the Kingdom of Lai is different today than it used to be. If Aye fails..."
"I fear the world is about to change."
At that time, no one will be able to stop the already powerful Lai Kingdom from unifying the world. Chu Wuding swallowed the rest of his words, met the young king's gaze, and both of their eyes were extremely solemn.
...
A drop of cold rain landed on Lin Chengye's nose, jolting her awake. She opened the oil-paper umbrella beside her, but stood there blankly until the raindrops gathered into lines, eventually turning into a torrential downpour that obscured the road ahead. This time, she was prepared and wouldn't be as passive as she had been that day.
Suddenly remembering something, she turned and left.
Unexpectedly, just as she stepped outside, she saw another person standing outside the inn, also holding an umbrella and dressed in fine clothes, standing in the rain. Upon seeing her come out, he quickly helped her up.
"...Why did you come in person?"
When Lin Chengye saw that person, his vision was blurred by the heavy rain, and for a moment he could not see anything else except that person.
"I'm just afraid of dying. You can just find someone to protect me and give me some confidence."
"Didn't you say you had something to ask of me when you said goodbye? If I don't come, who will?"
Guan Xiaoxian, still as straightforward as ever, tapped her forehead in annoyance. She looked behind Lin Chengye again, but didn't see anyone else, and asked...
"And where is that divine doctor Bian who was by your side?"
“She’s tired,” Lin Chengye said with a smile.
Twenty years have passed, and enemies have changed time and again. Only now have I finally seen the true person behind it all. How could I not be exhausted?
"That old devil Chu Wuding is gone, right? Alright, you look so pale, go back and rest."
Guan Xiaoxian turned and left, but Lin Chengye hesitated to follow. Instead, he quickly wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve.
"mother……"
Lin Chengye called out softly. She saw Guan Xiaoxian's back stiffen, and she turned around in disbelief, her brows furrowed with surprise. Her eyes instantly stung, and her throat tightened.
She opened her mouth wide, trying to make her voice clear, but when she uttered that one word, she couldn't stop sobbing. Tears and words rolled out of her lips, one after the other, shattered and mixed together.
She was exhausted tonight, her spirit almost at its limit. Chu Wuding revealed a truth that overturned her previous assumptions; the enemy she had always believed in...
Lin Chengye trembled once again as he tried to call out to Guan Xiaoxian.
"mother."
Author's note: [hugs] This is one of my favorite chapters. From now on, Xiao Ye has real family.
Jiang Jinmeng and Shenshu Tianjimen are both very important to her [hug].
This is a point of shattering and rebirth. If anyone has read this far, please leave a comment, or share any thoughts on the plot that you found enjoyable or unpleasant. Thank you for reading. [Let me see]
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