Chapter 229 Old Stories: He Called Me Muyun
"In the Blood Crossbow Case, someone tampered with the crossbows at Tianhu Workshop. At first, I wondered who could have done it, but today I learned that Master Lu was tricked. The Heavenly Furnace at Xingguo Workshop, capable of melting meteorites, was also tampered with. In full view of everyone, Master Pei and Jiang Muyun were both on top of the furnace, and I personally witnessed Jiang Muyun jump into it… If Jiang Muyun is still alive, how did she survive? And how did she manage to add something capable of melting meteorites into the furnace? I even wonder if the Master knew something? Did he not burn Jiang Muyun to death…"
"Is that really the case?" Feng Shisan was completely bewildered.
Guan Ye shook her head. She stepped onto the jade steps of the hall, meeting Wu Shuang/Jiang Muyun's clear and innocent eyes. On the day the dragon boat landed on the island, she and the others ran out of Xingguo Ward, passing by the Pei Family Ancestral Hall, where they encountered a perfect couple. They were fearless in the face of danger and vowed to live and die together. After the dragon boat left and the crowd dispersed, she saw that girl again on the beach. In the misty morning, in the dim light, the girl was like a mountain spirit hiding in the underworld, standing in the sand gazing at the endless sea.
“The thing that could burn to white flames was put in by Jiang Muyun,” Guan Ye said. “Jiang Muyun put it in with his own body…”
"Ah?!" Everyone exclaimed in surprise again. "But..." Feng Shisan pointed directly at Wushuang, as if he had seen a ghost, "Then who is she? She is Jiang Muyun. Jiang Muyun jumped into the Heavenly Furnace and was burned to death. So who is Wushuang?"
“I originally thought that Jiang Muyun was not dead. She and the workshop master used some kind of trick to make us think that she was dead. In fact, she escaped Canglang Island and infiltrated Rongdu to do something…” Guan Ye continued, “But I soon found out that I was wrong. Jiang Muyun died on the day of the sacrificial furnace. And who is Wushuang? She also knows forging, swordsmanship, and mineral coloring… She also looks exactly like Jiang Muyun, as if they were the same person.”
“Wushuang, is Jiang Muyun…” Mu Lexiu murmured, guessing. From the first moment he saw Wushuang, he had a strange feeling about this woman who had fallen from the sky. Mu Lexiu himself could not describe what kind of feeling it was. He looked up to Wushuang, admired Wushuang, and also… feared Wushuang. No matter what he did or said, it seemed that he was being suppressed by Wushuang.
Guan Ye shook her head. "Jiang Muyun is dead. He died on the day the meteorite was melted. Wushuang is the one who survived." Guan Ye suddenly pointed at Wushuang's face. "I've seen you before, more than once, but I was caught up in the situation and didn't recognize you."
"—Our first meeting was on the day the treasure ship first landed on the island. It was before dawn, and normally no one would be on the beach. You didn't know the treasure ship had landed, and you came to the beach to collect shells as usual. When you saw the islanders surging onto the beach, you had nowhere to hide. Fortunately, everyone was in a panic that day and no one would notice you. You were wearing a raincoat and hiding in the crowd, and no one cared. Most importantly…" Guan Ye paused and continued, "Even if they did notice you, with your appearance being the same as Jiang Muyun's, everyone would only think you were Jiang Muyun."
Wu Shuang smiled faintly, "Who said no one cares? Guan Ye, you noticed me. You mistook me for Jiang Muyun."
“You noticed me watching you too,” Guan Ye said. “I was wondering why you were with Young Master Pei at the ancestral hall when I left Xingguo Ward. I thought you were just curious about what the treasure ship was doing there, so I didn’t think much of it and just let it go.”
Feng Shisan blinked his big eyes. "She's not Jiang Muyun, so why does she look exactly like Jiang Muyun? It's not uncommon for strange people and events to happen in this vast world, but how could such a small place like Canglang Island produce two people with the same appearance? If they really are two people..." Feng Shisan wondered, "and how could they have gone unnoticed for so many years?"
Guan Ye replied, "If we hadn't coincidentally entered the mine to take shelter from the rain, Lu Chaoge's remains would never have been discovered."
“These are two different things.” Feng Shisan was somewhat out of control. “The dead are gone, but the living must do everything they can to survive. As long as they live, they leave a trace. How could Canglang Island, such a small place, have gone unnoticed for twenty years without anyone discovering that there was another Jiang Muyun? This doesn’t make sense!”
“Wushuang.” Guan Ye tilted her head and raised her hand. “I’m also curious about how you’ve lived on Canglang Island so quietly for twenty years. Why don’t you… tell everyone about it?”
Wu Shuang's smile faded. "You've already guessed a lot, and I suspect you've guessed far more than this. But you insisted I say it myself. It's alright, many things are due for the light of day." Wu Shuang looked at Lu Xiaojun's face, contorted with pain. "Uncle, I jumped on your boat, and you called me Muyun…"
Wanqi Xi reached out to Wushuang and gently touched her cheek. "You're not... her?"
“My name is also Jiang Muyun.” Wushuang’s eyes dimmed slightly, then instantly turned arrogant again. “But I know I am not her, so I gave myself a new name, Wushuang.”
"—Before I was six, I lived with wolves. Jiang Muyun told me that when we were two, my mother took her out to find food, leaving me asleep in the mine. A wolf sneaked into the mine and carried me away. My mother was devastated and couldn't leave for many years. There was no blood in the mine. My mother had heard that mother wolves would also raise human babies, and she felt that I might still be alive. She never gave up looking for me. Jiang Muyun said that they could have left Canglang Island. A large ship was sailing towards them in the morning mist. The people on the ship and my mother hugged each other and cried, begging to go together. My mother refused. Later, I asked Jiang Muyun if she regretted not leaving Canglang Island earlier. Jiang Muyun said she didn't regret it. If she had left, she would never have found me again. My mother's premonition was right. Perhaps this is what it means for mothers and daughters to be connected. Her other daughter really didn't die. I am still alive."
"When Jiang Muyun found me, it was also at the seaside. The morning fog was so thick that we thought we had seen a ghost. Two people who looked exactly alike were gazing at each other in the fog. I didn't know who she was, but a strange feeling drew me toward her. I stroked her hair, trying to see her more clearly. She cupped my face in her hands, as if confirming something. Suddenly she burst into tears and said, 'I have finally found you.'"
“Jiang Muyun took me to the mine. As soon as I entered, I smelled a putrid stench. There was a dead body in the mine, already rotten to the bone. Jiang Muyun said to the dead body, ‘Mother, I’ve brought my sister to see you.’” Wushuang suppressed a sob and paused for a moment before continuing, “I grew up among wolves, barely clothed and no different from a savage. When I first met Jiang Muyun, I couldn’t even speak. She taught me word by word in the mine. She also passed on everything my mother had taught her without reservation. She said that the master of Canglang Island and my family were sworn enemies, and that our origins must never be known. She said, ‘I am her, we share a life.’”
Lu Xiaojun suddenly realized, tears welling in her eyes. "No wonder, no wonder my sister wouldn't come with me. It seems there was something she couldn't bear to leave behind on the island... So she gave birth to twins, Muyun, and you. But why..." Lu Xiaojun's voice was hoarse. "My sister and I made a promise to meet each other at the beach every year on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, to make sure we were both safe. Even though my sister wasn't here, Muyun would still keep the promise between me and her mother, waiting at the beach to see me... She found you, she could have taken you with her, the three of us could have gone together, why! Why didn't she do that?"
"Because," a hint of sadness flashed across Wushuang's usually cold face, "Guan Ye, do you know the reason?"
Guan Ye lowered her eyebrows. She didn't know at first, but after asking Pei Bi about Jiang Muyun's past, she knew the whole story.
"After Lu Chaoge passed away, Muyun collected seashells on the beach every day. Eventually, she was discovered by an old woman on the island. The old woman took pity on her and adopted her. The old woman's surname was Jiang, and from then on, she was called Jiang Muyun. When Jiang Muyun was ten years old, she went with the old woman to Xingguo Ward to deliver seashells. She happened to meet Young Master Pei. Muyun was beautiful and charming, and the young master felt sorry for her. He couldn't bear to see her struggling to make a living outside the ward, so he kept her in Xingguo Ward as his maid. Although she was called a maid, Jiang Muyun's food, clothing, and daily necessities were no different from the young master's. Everyone in the ward respected her. At that time, we said in private that a person like Miss Muyun would definitely stay by the young master's side forever."
Feng Shisan stared in amazement and chimed in, "I remember, when Lou Shitou was injured, Miss Muyun took out an extremely beautiful handkerchief. The handkerchief was so soft and smooth, like the clouds in the sky. Only the young master can use such an item, and Miss Muyun actually has one. The young master must really like her."
Guan Ye continued, "Jiang Muyun didn't take you away because she had already become Young Master Pei's maid at that time. The young master treated her well, and she... couldn't bear to leave."
The icy beauty on Wushuang's face gradually melted, revealing a mesmerizing halo. Guan Ye stared intently, then suddenly realized something, "It's not her, it's you... the one you can't bear to leave, it's you."
Wushuang was completely immersed in her own memories, and in her daze, she could no longer hear the whispers of those around her. Finally, she could finally tell everything and reveal the stories hidden deep in her heart.
"I reunited with Jiang Muyun when I was thirteen. At that time, she had been a maidservant to Young Master Pei for several years. She hid me in the mine, keeping me company with my mother's corpse. I grew up among wolves, so I was naturally unafraid. After I learned to read, I began to study the ancient books left by my mother. I could recite the 'Casting Classic' backwards. Whenever Jiang Muyun had free time, she would come to the back mountain to find me, bringing me plenty of food. She was afraid I would be bored, and she would tell me about the people and events in Xingguo Ward. She said that in a few days, on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month of the following year, someone would come to pick us up. At that time, we could leave Canglang Island. The world was vast, and nothing could hold us back anymore. I asked her who would come to pick us up, and she said: 'It's our uncle.'"
Upon hearing the word "Uncle," even the strong-willed Lu Xiaoyun was already in tears.
"Inside the mine, I had nothing left to learn. I asked Jiang Muyun if I could go outside and see the world. She was always cautious and afraid of making any mistakes. I told her that I looked just like her and that I already knew a lot about the people and things outside from her, especially that Young Master Pei. Although I had never met him, I had heard Jiang Muyun talk about him so much that it seemed like I knew him well. I had been curious about Young Master Pei for a long time and couldn't wait to meet this disabled man who seemed to be watching the world with a smile. I also wanted to go to the Sword Pavilion in Xingguo Ward. Jiang Muyun said that it had a lot of ancient books and that Young Master Pei often spent the whole day there reading them and would invite her to read with him. Unfortunately, Jiang Muyun had no interest in forging techniques, but I was really itching to go. Forging techniques are so interesting, how could anyone not be interested? I wanted to go to Xingguo Ward, and I wanted to get to know Young Master Pei even more."
"Jiang Muyun couldn't resist my persistent pleading and finally agreed to let me take her place in Xingguo Ward. She repeatedly warned me to be careful, saying that Pei Yuan was suspicious, Pei Bi was cautious, and Pei Chu was intelligent. If I were to slip up, it would bring disaster upon me. I laughed at her for being timid. Xingguo Ward had been confined to this tiny place for over a hundred years. It was barely surviving. What waves could it possibly stir up? Since we're all on the island, everyone is the same. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Wushuang let out a soft sigh and chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Nothing to be afraid of... How could I say such a thing? If time could turn back, I would never have stepped into Xingguo Ward, so my sister would have taken me away from Canglang Island, and we would never have been separated from my uncle again."
"The most terrifying thing happened from the first moment I saw Pei Chu. When I first met him, he called me Mu Yun. Mu Yun, I was stunned. I had never thought this name was nice before. It was my sister's name, not mine. Although my sister said that I was her, I knew that I was me and would never be her. I wanted to have my own name, but I hadn't decided what to call myself until... Pei Chu called me this name, and I willingly... became Jiang Mu Yun."
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