Mu Rufeng went to Mu Jiangchuan's courtyard but couldn't find him. A servant told him that Mu Jiangchuan had sent someone to show him around the mansion. The servants in the mansion had been dismissed by Mu Rufeng after the death of the previous master, and now all the servants in the Mu family were his people. Mu Rufeng asked for Mu Jiangchuan's location and went to find him in a rather cheerful mood.
Mu Jiangchuan was in poor health and looked destined to die young. He could have just waited to die, but he refused to accept it. Mu Jiangchuan was too weak to practice martial arts, and he couldn't do the physically demanding work of sword forging. But he refused to give up, and at the age of sixteen, he gritted his teeth and forged a sword without sleep. After that, he fell ill and became bedridden.
Mu Rufeng still remembers clearly the way the former patriarch held that sword, his eyes filled with tears of admiration.
A short-lived man forged a fine sword on his first attempt, and Mu Rufeng heard even more whispers after that.
And the sighs of the former head of the family.
The Mu family is skilled in weapon making, especially sword forging. The head of the Mu family must be able to forge swords, and especially good swords.
Mu Rufeng dislikes Mu Jiangchuan.
This was especially true after he learned that he was not the biological son of the former head of the family.
Madam Mu and the former head of the family were deeply in love. He married his second wife to take care of Mu Jiangchuan. The second wife was resentful and had an affair with a servant. After a night of passion, she became pregnant. Fortunately, the former head of the family did not suspect anything.
Mu Rufeng's biological father had long been dismissed by his stepmother under some pretext, but he was still constantly threatened by her. When Mu Rufeng found out, he went and killed him himself.
On a dark and windy night, that person passed away in their sleep.
He even remembered the blood gushing from the man's neck like a spring.
He had seen similar scenes many times before, but none were as memorable as when he killed his own father and severed Mu Rufeng's tendons.
Mu Rufeng stopped in his tracks. He saw Mu Jiangchuan squatting by the pond, staring at the koi in the water, looking eager to try his luck.
When traveling by water, that man stared at the fish swaying in the water with the same expression. Once, he almost fell into the water. At that time, Mu Rufeng watched from afar, hoping that he would fall in directly like that.
Mu Rufeng made no attempt to conceal his presence. Mu Jiangchuan, being very perceptive, looked up at him, smiled, and revealed clear, pure eyes.
Why didn't they gouge out his eyes back then?
Mu Rufeng's thoughts were full of malice, but he smiled and asked, "Why did you get up so early, brother? Are you not used to it?"
It was indeed too early; the sun had not yet risen, and only a faint light flickered on the horizon.
Yan Liang stood up, patted his clothes, and said, "I felt uneasy and wanted to go out for a walk."
His eyes were dark and bluish, and his face looked sickly and rather haggard.
Mu Rufeng asked worriedly, "Is there no calming incense in your brother's room?"
"Yes, it did, but I put it out when I got up in the middle of the night because it smelled awful," Yan Liang said.
So he didn't sleep at all in the second half of the night.
Everything Mu Jiangchuan experienced was presented to him in his dream. The early part was a pleasant dream, but the later part was about being imprisoned in a water dungeon by Mu Rufeng and slowly dying after being released by Jiang Qing.
Yan Liang thought to himself that he was a real man for being able to smile at Mu Rufeng like this.
Mu Rufeng sensed that Yan Liang was distracted and absent-minded. After thinking for a moment, he dismissed the servant who had been leading Mu Jiangchuan. Mu Rufeng then introduced the sights in the house with a smile as he strolled slowly with Mu Jiangchuan.
With his hands tucked into his sleeves, Yan Liang strolled leisurely with Mu Rufeng, a beaming smile on his face. If one disregarded the hidden malice in Mu Rufeng's heart, he was indeed an excellent tour guide, providing detailed explanations of everything Yan Liang pointed out—a truly considerate and attentive companion.
—But he's a lunatic.
Tang Yang was secretly troubled when he saw this scene of brotherly affection. Mu Rufeng's thought process was very strange. He was not happy that Mu Jiangchuan was alive, and he was even more unhappy that he had escaped. Tang Yang thought that he would probably only be able to let go of the past when Mu Jiangchuan died, but Mu Rufeng just wouldn't kill Mu Jiangchuan.
"Brother, do you still remember this place?" The two stopped in front of a courtyard. Mu Rufeng smiled and pushed open the door to go inside. "Brother, you once forged a sword here. That sword is still in the courtyard. Why don't you come with me to take a look? Perhaps you can remember some things from the past."
The sword sat alone on the shelf, untouched by dust, sharp and menacing.
When Yan Liang saw the sword forged by Mu Jiangchuan, he was as if he had lost his mind, and images flashed before his eyes one after another, like a revolving lantern.
The physically weak boy sweated profusely, and despite being exhausted and panting heavily, he stubbornly refused to give up. He was overjoyed when the process was completed...
Seeing that Yan Liang seemed dazed, Mu Rufeng was startled, thinking that Mu Jiangchuan might have suddenly regained his memories after experiencing something. His mind was in turmoil, and he didn't even notice Yan Liang reaching for the sword before a loud noise snapped him back to reality.
Yan Liang stared at the sword that had fallen to the ground, feeling lost and dejected.
He's in such poor physical condition that he can't even lift a sword.
Mu Rufeng felt a sense of pleasure upon seeing him like this, but he was unsure whether Mu Jiangchuan had regained his memories, so he stood aside and watched coldly.
Yan Liang smiled slightly at him: "I remember this sword. But I can't lift it. Could you help me take it back?"
Mu Rufeng smiled and said, "Brother, you really like this sword."
He bent down to pick up the sword. After the two left the courtyard, they met Tang Yang. Mu Rufeng gave the sword to Tang Yang and asked him to put it in Yan Liang's room. Tang Yang took the sword with a strange expression and couldn't help but glance at Yan Liang, meeting a pair of smiling eyes.
"Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Tang." Yan Liang thanked him. Tang Yang's identity was strange. Mu Jiangchuan only knew that he was brought back by Mu Rufeng after the death of the former family head, and the two seemed to be old acquaintances.
"It's alright." Tang Yang replied indifferently, exchanged a glance with Mu Rufeng, and turned to leave.
Mu Rufeng smiled and said, "Tang Yang has always been like this, brother, don't take it to heart."
Yan Liang smiled and said, "It's alright. Young Master Tang is a man of deep feelings. I imagine he only confides in you."
Mu Rufeng found these words rather harsh, but seeing Yan Liang's composed expression, he realized he had been overthinking things. He then invited Yan Liang to have a meal together, and Yan Liang smiled and agreed.
"Brother Jiang Chuan..."
As soon as Jiang Qing stepped out of the courtyard, she saw Mu Jiangchuan and hurriedly called out to him. When she saw Mu Rufeng emerge from behind him, she swallowed the rest of the notes and looked at the two of them with unease.
Mu Rufeng quickly stepped forward, took Jiang Qing's hand, and said happily, "You've come at the right time. Let's go have a meal together."
When Jiang Qing's hand was taken by him, her body stiffened. She felt extremely uncomfortable, unsure whether to pull her hand away or let it go. Then she heard Mu Rufeng's intimate tone and subconsciously looked at Yan Liang not far away, only to see him smiling with knowing eyes.
Yan Liang: This girl has really had a tough time...
Jiang Qing was both ashamed and annoyed. Turning her head, she met Mu Rufeng's sharp eyes again, and was startled once more, her legs going weak. Mu Rufeng reached out and put his arm around her slender waist, asking worriedly, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Before Jiang Qing could speak, he sternly ordered the two maids who were with her, "Hurry up and help Madam back to her room to rest!"
This series of swift and ruthless actions caught not only Jiang Qing but also Yan Liang off guard. One of the characters in the love triangle only made a brief appearance before being helped back.
Yan Liang: I'm impressed by this move.
Jiang Qing: ...!!!!
If Mu Jiangchuan and Mu Rufeng didn't share the same surname, Yan Liang would have even suspected that Mu Rufeng was in love with Mu Jiangchuan. Of course, he only thought about it, but who knew that he would learn some shocking news that very noon!
Mu Jiangchuan and Mu Rufeng are not biological brothers!
Yan Liang: ...I don't want to admit defeat in this situation.
Tang Yang couldn't stand Mu Rufeng's actions, so after lunch, she pulled Mu Rufeng to the study for a private talk. The study was in a secluded location with no one to hide from, so the two talked very comfortably. However, Yan Liang had a cheat device and heard everything clearly.
Tang Yang frowned and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Mu Rufeng flipped through the book without looking up, his voice low: "I wasn't thinking about anything."
Tang Yang said in a deep voice, "You've wasted a lot of time on Mu Jiangchuan's affairs these past few months. Even if the affairs of the pavilion don't require your attention, you shouldn't be like this. Before he lost his memory, you imprisoned and tortured him. Didn't that quell your hatred?" He was very puzzled, "If you're so disgusted with him, why bother playing this brotherly and respectful act with him? Do you really consider him your elder brother?"
Mu Rufeng looked up at Tang Yang and sighed, "Of course I wish I could kill him. But he knows nothing, so killing him like this would be too easy on him."
Tang Yang thought to herself, "If you want to kill someone, why don't you kill him before he loses his memory?"
Mu Rufeng seemed to know what he was thinking and smiled slightly, saying, "I couldn't stand his carefree attitude before, so I told him everything, including the fact that my younger brother and I are not related by blood. His reaction was so interesting that I was reluctant to let it go. It's just that he has forgotten it all now... which is really a pity."
"...Do you want him to remember?"
“That’s too much trouble. Fortunately, he’s just a useless piece of trash now. Even if he does remember, it won’t matter. He can’t escape.” Mu Rufeng said indifferently, “I’m just interested recently. I can kill him when I get tired of him. I’ve sent away all the people in this manor who watched Mu Jiangchuan grow up. I can’t count on Jiang Qing either. The two of them can’t cause any big trouble.”
"Don't forget that Jiang Qing let Mu Jiangchuan go. Don't say she can't be relied on." Tang Yang frowned, disapproving of Mu Rufeng's actions.
“…Jiang Qing is too stupid.” Mu Rufeng sighed, recalling how Jiang Qing had questioned him after letting Mu Jiangchuan go before their marriage. “That time she was lucky. If she knew what was good for her, she should have behaved herself.”
"Whatever you want." Tang Yang stopped talking about it and instead took out the invitation. "It's the Hua family head's 60th birthday celebration. Are you going?"
"The Hua family..." Mu Rufeng's expression was inscrutable. "Of course we should go. The Hua family has great influence in the Jiangnan area. We should be on good terms with them rather than make enemies."
"Are you going to bring Mu Jiangchuan along? Didn't the Seventh Young Master of the Hua family save his life? If he finds out, he might want to go." Tang Yang casually mentioned.
Mu Rufeng pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly: "Since my brother wants to go, I will naturally do my best to fulfill his wish."
Tang Yang: "..."
Tang Yang: "He's not your biological brother."
Isn't this just asking for trouble? Bringing someone back and then taking them out again—isn't that insane?
Tang Yang never hid anything from Mu Rufeng; his expression clearly conveyed the message, "Are you stupid?"
Mu Rufeng smiled and shooed him out.
Yan Liang almost burst out laughing. Even he, who was eavesdropping, thought Mu Rufeng was crazy. After hearing Tang Yang's words, he realized that he was probably thinking the same thing as Mu Rufeng.
He didn't identify with the "elder brother" and "Mu Jiangchuan" mentioned in Mu Rufeng and Tang Yang's conversation. In the end, he was himself, and Mu Jiangchuan was Mu Jiangchuan. It was just a matter of how others saw him. But Yan Liang clearly knew the difference between himself and Mu Jiangchuan.
Mu Jiangchuan's memories were like a documentary to him, full of information, enough for him to understand the current situation.
Yan Liang suppressed a laugh for a while, and Tang Yang walked past from the opposite side with steady steps. The corridor was long, and the two were separated by a pool. Anyone who wasn't blind could have caught a glimpse of Yan Liang out of the corner of their eye, but Tang Yang seemed to be blind, not even turning her head as she walked through the corridor.
Yan Liang: ...
They were ignored.
Tang Yang harbored no ill will towards Yan Liang, but he also had no desire to cultivate a good relationship with him. He simply believed that Yan Liang was destined to die sooner or later, and that he was only alive now because of Mu Rufeng's unpredictable and treacherous nature. Tang Yang could tell at a glance that Yan Liang was in extremely poor health and would likely pass away within five years at most; he was lucky to be alive.
Yan Liang had no intention of cultivating a good relationship with Tang Yang. He figured that since Tang Yang was under Mu Rufeng's command, she probably wouldn't have any good feelings towards him. Based on the conversation between the two, Tang Yang didn't seem like the type to cooperate with Mu Rufeng's act.
With a sigh, Yan Liang happily ran off to find Jiang Qing.
Yan Liang knew that Mu Rufeng didn't like seeing him and Jiang Qing together, so since he could make Mu Rufeng unhappy, Yan Liang was more than willing to annoy Mu Rufeng before going to the Hua family.
Not to mention how pitiful Jiang Qing was... she met the wrong person and lived in constant fear. Yan Liang, upholding international humanitarian principles, went to comfort Jiang Qing.
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