Chapter 952: Are you sure he's his nephew? [Seeking monthly votes]
Gong Xichou knew at a glance what kind of nonsense he was thinking and scoffed, "You really think this is a simple matter?"
Xun Ding looked embarrassed: "It was a bit easier than I expected."
He really thought he would be beaten half to death by Gong Xichou.
Xun Ding had followed Gong Xi Chou for several years and knew all too well that this man's thought process was quite unusual. The latter's normal performance would be to beat Xun Ding half to death, while an extraordinary performance might result in him being killed outright, before turning around and introducing him to a string of burly, strong male concubines to help the young widow overcome her grief. A normal person would be wary of Xun Ding's father being the Minister of Revenue, but Gong Xi Chou didn't care about such worldly matters at all.
So what if he was beaten? So what if he was killed? Even if Xun Ding had a father who was the Minister of Revenue, or even if the King of Hell were his father, it wouldn't matter.
Although I was beaten up tonight, I wasn't seriously injured.
It was far below Xun Ding's expectations.
Gong Xichou's lips twitched, and he sighed, "If Alai had my cultivation level, you two would get along very well."
There are some men in this world who are born with itchy skin and like to be beaten.
One can fight, the other can take the hits.
Isn't it a perfect match?
Xun Ding's mind didn't quite process what was happening, completely failing to grasp the logic between the two. Gong Xi Chou didn't have time to wait for him to understand either: "The bodies of ordinary people and martial arts masters have different pain tolerance levels. I hope you can still be this relaxed on the day she gives birth. It's not like I haven't considered killing you, but for A Lai and the child's sake..."
If Xun Ding were a scoundrel or if it were just Gong Xilai's one-sided affection, Xun Ding would be reporting to the Yellow Springs by now. But since the two are in love with each other, he has no penchant for breaking up a couple: "After marriage, remember to control your lower body. The Gongxi clan does not forbid divorce, but prohibits infidelity within marriage."
“When I was helping Alai organize your clan's documents, I saw some of them, and I know your clan's rules. I'm not the kind of person who's lustful or womanizing.” Xun Ding nodded vigorously, then, fearing that Gongxi Chou wouldn't believe him, added, “I can swear to heaven!”
Gong Xichou revealed a mocking smile.
He said, "We're both men. A promise on this subject written on a piece of paper is so useless it's not even good enough to wipe your butt."
Xun Ding thought to himself that this second brother-in-law was really difficult to deal with.
"Then I swear on my courage!"
With such complete obedience, surely the brother-in-law should be satisfied?
Gong Xichou shook his head: "We have our own methods."
Xun Ding was truly speechless and couldn't help but complain, "Seriously, how come your clan has all sorts of tricks up its sleeve?"
First, there's the secret technique to make the man experience the pain of childbirth; then there are methods to ensure fidelity and prevent infidelity. They'll probably pull out other strange and unusual things later. The Gongxi tribe isn't large, but they have a lot of rules. Following the tribe's customs, he nodded in agreement.
This time, Gong Xichou surprisingly didn't roll his eyes.
"Living in seclusion without doing anything interesting, how boring would that be?"
Xun Ding: "..."
Gong Xichou put away his armor and reached out his hand to Xun Ding.
Xun Ding grinned foolishly, grabbed Gong Xichou's hand for leverage to stand up, and said loudly, "Haha, thank you, Second Brother!"
Gong Xichou was so disgusted by this title that his mouth twitched.
"Don't call me that."
Xun Ding ignored him, his gaze falling directly on Ji Moqiu, who remained silent. This young man bore a striking resemblance to Gong Xiqiu, yet they were two completely different styles. Gong Xiqiu, simply standing there without speaking, exuded an aura of menace at first glance; the young man, however, was more approachable and less intimidating. "Second brother, who is this?"
Could he be Gong Xichou's son?
Judging from his appearance and age, it seems to fit.
However, Gong Xi Chou was not interested in women and still practiced virginity cultivation. Despite his age, he was still a virgin and couldn't possibly have a son this old. Xun Ding also thought that Gong Xi Chou had been gone for many years to find his brother and nephew, so he guessed Ji Mo Qiu's identity was about 50% correct.
The reason it was 50% was because Xun Ding was still unsure whether the boy was Gong Xi Chou's older brother or Gong Xi Chou's nephew.
A hot fact—
It is difficult to judge the exact age of a cultivator from their appearance.
Even though Gong Xichou disliked the title "Second Brother," he had no choice but to grit his teeth and bear it: "He is the eldest brother's son."
Ji Moqiu nodded: "Ji Moqiu, courtesy name Shaobai."
Xun Ding was surprised: "Ji Mo Qiu? So, his original name should be Gong Xi Qiu... But isn't that the name of my elder brother?"
The genealogy of the Gongxi clan was handed over to Gongxi Lai by Gongxi Chou.
Every year after the rainy season, Gong Xilai would air out the family genealogy to check for any damage from ants or insects. If there was any damage, she would need to find someone to repair it; if it couldn't be repaired, she would have to order a new genealogy. Xun Ding often visited her residence and had also helped her organize it.
He remembered the Gongxi Chou branch very well, especially the one he knew very well.
Gong Xichou had an older brother named Qiu.
In other words, Gongxi Chou's elder brother should have originally been called Gongxi Qiu. After becoming the high priest, he changed his surname from Gongxi to Jimo.
Its current name is Jimoqiu.
How can a father and son share the same name?
Gong Xichou's expression went blank for a moment.
He looked at Ji Moqiu, and Ji Moqiu looked at him.
"Perhaps it's his elder brother's expectations for him..."
Xun Ding then asked, "Why didn't my elder brother come back with you?"
He regretted asking the question as soon as he did.
Gong Xichou's face visibly darkened, with a hint of grief in it: "My elder brother has passed away."
Xun Ding was greatly shocked: "How could this be? When did this happen?"
Brothers and sisters also need to observe mourning.
His wedding with Alai won't happen during the mourning period, right?
Even if they didn't care about these things, this matter would still be criticized if it got out. Xun Dingyi was greatly troubled by the thought of the wedding, which was all prepared and only the day was left. For a moment, he didn't know how to tell Gong Xilai. He was worried.
Gongxi Chou's answer left Xun Ding in despair.
This happened two months ago.
Two months ago, needless to say, he was still in mourning.
Xun Dingzheng was troubled by the last-minute cancellation of the wedding and wondered what excuse he could use to explain it to the guests. Suddenly, something seemed amiss.
Are you sure... it was two months ago?
Gong Xichou's brow furrowed: "What do you mean?"
Xun Ding quickly reassured him, "No, no, Second Brother, I didn't mean any disrespect. I just wanted to verify the time. Are you sure it was two months ago? Is the time correct?"
Gong Xichou: "Yes, it won't be more than a few days off."
After he finished speaking, he saw that Xun Ding looked suspicious.
He asked, "Xun Yong'an, is there anything you want to say?"
Xun Ding was puzzled: "Could there be some misunderstanding here? I remember A Lai said that your clan's life lamp wouldn't malfunction, right? As long as a person is alive and their breath doesn't die, the life lamp won't go out. A month ago, I started the final preparations for the wedding and took a month and a half of leave in advance to accompany A Lai back to the Gongxi clan's territory to inform my parents-in-law of the news of the upcoming marriage... cough cough cough, we went to the secret room where the life lamp is enshrined, and there were still two lamps lit in the secret room."
Without a high priest, the life lamp of Gongsil could not be made.
Six months ago, there were still three life lamps in the secret room.
Two lamps shone brightly, while another flickered weakly, like a candle in the wind. The last time I checked, only two remained; the other had gone out. For the past few years, Gong Xilai had relied on the state of the life lamps to assess Gong Xichou's situation.
Gong Xichou: "..."
Xun Ding continued, “I remember your elder brother has been away from home for many years. Even if he has offspring, the life lamps of his offspring are not enshrined in the secret room. So, of the two life lamps that exist, one is yours and the other is your elder brother’s. Your elder brother’s life lamp was still lit a month ago.”
This contradicts Gong Xichou's report that his eldest brother died two months ago: "Second brother, did you see our eldest brother die with your own eyes?"
Under the watchful eyes of Xun Ding and Ji Moqiu, Gong Xichou shook his head.
Gong Xichou, with his head full of braids, was now full of questions. He forced himself to recall that scene, his hands still trembling uncontrollably: "Big brother, big brother... I rushed over, but big brother had already died, his body was gone, only some remnants of his clothes remained."
The purpose of this trip is twofold: first, to attend Gong Xilai's wedding, and second, to build a cenotaph for my elder brother. He wandered aimlessly during his life; in death, he should return to his roots and be with his clan.
Ji Moqiu listened from the side, tilting his head.
He had no memory of his father.
But something about Gong Xichou's words sounded off to him.
Xun Ding: "If you're alive, you should see the person; if you're dead, you should see the body. Since you haven't seen the body, why are you so sure that my elder brother has died?"
Gong Xichou's eyes were red: "But I saw my elder brother's Soul-Gathering Tree! It's unique to our clan, how could I be mistaken! The Soul-Gathering Tree is born from the bones of our clansmen. As long as it exists, my elder brother exists! My elder brother is right there, how could I be mistaken!"
He was somewhat agitated.
Seeing this, Xun Ding dared not provoke him further.
Unexpectedly, Ji Moqiu tilted his head in confusion.
"Is the Soul-Giving Tree you mentioned located in an underground palace?"
"Yes, I also found my elder brother's belongings there..." Gong Xichou took out a neatly folded handkerchief from his bosom, inside which were several pieces of blood-stained tattered cloth, the bloodstains no longer bright red.
Ji Moqiu vaguely felt that this fabric looked familiar.
After a moment's thought, doesn't it look familiar?
"The soul-giving tree in the underground palace is the transformation of my teacher."
"Your teacher is like your father, my elder brother!"
Ji Moqiu said, "But the teacher's name is different from mine. His name is Ji Moyu. I originally thought you were the teacher's mother's late-life child, but—it seems there is some misunderstanding between us."
Xun Ding: "..."
The scene before us was somewhat dramatic.
Did Gong Xi Chou mistakenly look for the wrong person while searching for relatives?
No, these two look like they're related by blood.
Engrossed in watching the drama unfold, Xun Ding forgot the lingering pain in his body. Seeing Gong Xi Chou struggling to speak for a long time without uttering a sound, Xun Ding was confident he could launch a sneak attack before Gong Xi Chou could react. Gong Xi Chou, still in a daze, muttered, "No, impossible—how could you not be my nephew? You look so much like me, look, you're at least seven or eight points alike!"
Then he grabbed Xun Ding to identify the two men's appearances.
“…Um, second brother, is it possible that eldest brother is not dead, and the person in front of us is eldest brother? After all, the life lamp in the clan’s territory doesn’t lie, and eldest brother’s life lamp is still burning.”
Gong Xichou: "..."
Ji Moqiu: "..."
Gong Xiqiu breathed heavily, his eyes filled with a cautious anticipation as he looked at Ji Moqiu: "Shaobai, how old are you?"
"My teacher said I should be 18 years old by the traditional Chinese age reckoning..."
Gong Xichou slapped Xun Ding on the shoulder and said angrily, "Listen to this, eighteen years old, or eighteen in the traditional Chinese age reckoning. Do you think my parents would give me an older brother who is so much younger than me?"
Xun Ding, who nearly suffered internal injuries from the blow, was speechless.
Watching Gong Xi Chou's angry retreating figure, Xun Ding rubbed his shoulder: "That bastard Gong Xi Feng En really went all out. Even if you're not his nephew or his older brother, with your appearance, you must be related to him. Why did he turn on you like that?"
The elder brother's life lamp is lit, shouldn't we be happy?
Ji Moqiu helped him recover from his injuries.
"To give hope and then crush it is cruel."
Xun Ding muttered, "How can he be so crazy? I thought he'd calm down once he found his relatives, but now that he's found the wrong people, he's definitely going to go on a crazy search again. The world is so big, how is he supposed to find them?"
A guess came to Ji Moqiu's mind.
"Perhaps it has already been found."
Xun Ding looked over and asked, "What do you mean, young man?"
Ji Moqiu curved his eyebrows and smiled gently and harmlessly, saying, "Perhaps, I really am his older brother. The teacher said I am eighteen years old in the traditional Chinese way of counting age, but I myself did not know that. That is because I had many years before following the teacher, and my mind was confused and I did not know my age. My body was also frozen at the age of six for some reason. It was the teacher who helped me break some of the restrictions, so that my body could grow normally."
Their ages are all consistent.
His age is segmented.
Xun Ding was so shocked he could hardly close his mouth. He looked in the direction Gong Xichou had angrily left, then at Ji Moqiu who seemed completely unaffected, and stamped his foot anxiously: "In that case, go and explain to him quickly. Gong Xichou isn't very bright; I'm afraid he might do something foolish!"
Ji Moqiu replied, "No rush."
Xun Ding: "..."
He put away his wooden cane: "I also need time to accept it."
He needs time to process the fact that the second uncle he has accepted is not actually his second uncle, but his younger brother.
Gong Xichou won't run away.
Xun Ding: "..."
The thought processes of these peculiar species are indeed quite different from those of ordinary people.
A sly glint flashed in Ji Moqiu's eyes: "Actually, proving my relationship with him is very simple, just use the Fate-Testing Lamp."
The Life Lamp is an ever-burning lamp lit by the aura of its master, unextinguishable by wind or water, and this aura originates from the soul itself. If they are truly brothers rather than uncle and nephew, the ever-burning lamp in the clan's territory belonging to Ji Moqiu will burn eternally for him.
Xun Ding thought of Gong Xi Chou's mind.
Disdain: "Does he even want this weight?"
Ji Moqiu said, "He is very smart."
It's just uncertain when I'll be able to come up with it.
“Right now, the most important thing is your marriage to Alai…” Ji Moqiu originally wanted to say “Aunt Alai”, but since her identity and seniority were questionable, she addressed her by her name. “Verifying this matter is not urgent. Everything else must give way to the newlyweds.”
Xun Ding almost burst into tears upon hearing such gentle words.
Listen to that, that's the kind of demeanor a brother-in-law should have.
If it's really true, I'll meet with you again.
Xun Ding: "..."
After all that commotion, the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
Xun Ding had a good grasp of Gongxi Chou's temperament, but he was completely clueless about Ji Moqiu, who was suspected to be his brother-in-law. In addition, the other party had a youthful face, and for a moment he forgot himself. He put his arm around Ji Moqiu's shoulder and said in a high-pitched voice, "Brother Shaobai, are you hungry? I'll treat you to something delicious."
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.
Eighteen years old (by Chinese reckoning), and you're still not ready to be pinched!
Ji Moqiu didn't mind this closeness; Shao Chong was usually even more unserious than this. Xun Ding knew all the good food in the capital like the back of his hand: "Brother Shao Bai, let me tell you, this porridge shop has the most authentic taste of all the porridge shops in the capital. If you get up a little late, you can't even get a bowl. Their meat floss is made with a secret recipe; just sprinkle a little on it, and it tastes amazing!"
The two were having porridge at a breakfast stall.
Just as they took two sips, a commotion erupted from the main road of the capital.
|ω`)
(End of this chapter)
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