In reality, most of the time, what we call "fate playing tricks" is merely each person making excuses for themselves. Attributing it to fate is simply a form of self-redemption afterward. Yuan Qingze didn't follow Tang Yi in jumping off the cliff; instead, he searched for her remains for decades. Rather than saying his love was so profound as to be unforgettable, it's more accurate to say he was desperately seeking solace for his conscience. Not all love can be sustained to the death. Love is often a garden that blooms only for a season. When the vibrant beauty fades, when everything withers and falls into silence, those who were there realize they were merely spectators. Even if the splendor is etched into their hearts, like a dream that accompanies them for the rest of their lives, it is ultimately just a dream.
Author's Note: Okay, I completely admit I failed at writing melodramatic stories and am incapable of creating angst. After finishing, I realized I should maintain my usual calm writing style.
In the next chapter, Tangtang will have a scene with Momo. Hehe.
Talk
( ) When the old man got to this point, he couldn't help but shed tears.
Mo Xi pondered that the feud between the Tang Clan and the Shu Mountain, the two major powers of Shu in the south and north, stemmed from their promiscuous relationships. Although Tang Yi was poisoned with aphrodisiacs, why did she choose such a "anything goes" approach? Even if the poison was potent, and one man wasn't enough, she could have multiple partners. This fixed membership system guaranteed both quantity and quality, making it far safer and more effective than her random casting of the net. Besides, this girl was too foolish. She had dealt with so many men, yet she ruined a thousand years of cultivation for the Immortal Elder, ultimately losing her life. It was truly a pity. Furthermore, wasn't ancient society patriarchal? How come a Tang family girl who abducted a Shu Mountain disciple had a child with the surname Tang? Who were Tang Yi's parents? Their thinking was quite progressive.
Tang Huan waited until the old man had calmed down a bit before asking, "Since Senior Tang Yi jumped off Mount Shu back then, her remains may have been lost. How did you know that she was buried in the back mountain of the Tang Clan?"
The old man said, “To tell you the truth, Headmaster Tang, there’s a saying: ‘If she’s alive, you should see her; if she’s dead, you should see her body.’ Back then, I searched everywhere for her body but couldn’t find it. I held onto a tiny hope that, given her exceptional martial arts skills, she might still be alive. So I shamelessly came to the Tang Clan to ask for an audience. It was your sect’s chief steward, Tang De, who received me. He told me that Tang Yi was dead and that there was a tombstone for her in the cemetery behind the mountain. But I have never been able to see her in person, which I deeply regret. I hope Headmaster Tang can fulfill this long-cherished wish of mine.”
Tang Huan nodded and said, "That's for sure."
Mu Fengting suddenly asked, "Does Senior know the origin of that Soul-Destroying Incense? And how did Senior Tang Yi become infected with such a domineering and aphrodisiac poison?"
The old man shook his head and said, "Of course I asked her, but she wouldn't divulge a single word. I don't want to touch on her painful memories, so I'll leave it at that."
Mo Xi thought to himself: This is strange. Since Tang Yi was able to confide in Yuan Qingze about the poisoning and all her past misery without reservation, why didn't she reveal who poisoned her? There must be more to the story. Could it be that the perpetrator was an extremely powerful figure, someone Tang Yi couldn't handle with her martial arts skills? Was she afraid that Yuan Qingze, in a moment of righteous indignation, would needlessly sacrifice himself to avenge her? Furthermore, if the "Soul-Destroying Incense" was so potent that Tang Yi, even as a member of the Tang Clan, was helpless, that would make sense. But when Yuan Qingze treated Tang Yi's arrow wound, he simply found a random mountain doctor, and the poison was cured, indicating it was just an ordinary poison. Why didn't Tang Yi, a member of the Tang Clan, even have such an antidote?
The next day, Tang Huan kept his promise and took the immortal to the back mountain to pay respects to Tang Yi. Mo Xi and Mu Fengting, not wanting to enter the forbidden area of the back mountain, waited quietly for the two to come out and bid farewell to the immortal at the entrance of the cemetery.
Mo Xi had barely had time to drink a cup of tea after returning to her residence when Tang Huan arrived with a medicine box.
As usual, the treatment process of massage, warm washing, and applying medicine began step by step.
After removing the gauze, the redness and swelling on her wrist had subsided considerably. Mo Xi tried to rotate it slightly, and the pain seemed to have eased considerably. She said with a grin, "You, a half-miracle doctor, have become a quack doctor specializing in treating sprains and bruises. It's such a waste of your talent."
Tang Huan, who was focused on massaging her wrist, said softly upon hearing this, "I only wish that you, my lady, will be free from illness and disaster in this life, and that your life will be smooth sailing." He paused, stopped what he was doing, took her hand and gently placed it on his knee, looked up and gazed into her eyes, and said, "I also know that life is unpredictable and things cannot always go as planned. I only hope that I can heal all the pain and suffering you have in this life."
Before Mo Xi could answer, he asked, "How did you get this injury? You still haven't told me." He then lowered his head to focus on his work, no longer looking at her.
Mo Xi didn't hide anything from him and began to briefly recount the whole story.
When Tang Huan heard about her harrowing experience with the avalanche, her heart skipped a beat. She thought to herself, "Thank goodness, she's still safe and sound in front of me." With that thought in mind, her hand unconsciously tightened its grip.
Mo Xi said softly, "It hurts," but didn't pull her hand away.
Tang Huan then came to her senses, quickly let go of her, looked anxiously at her hand, and said, "I'm sorry, I was interrupted for a moment."
The sound of pain lingered for a moment, and to Tang Huan it carried a hint of playful complaint. He immediately brightened up, a smile playing on his lips, and said softly, "I hurt you. As compensation, this time there's no need for riddles; I'll grant you one request."
Mo Xi thought to herself: Who would willingly offer themselves up for extortion? Her eyes darted around, and she said with a grin, "Last time I asked you for a look at the Langya Staff, but you refused. How about this time?"
Tang Huan said softly, "You know perfectly well that I would do anything for you." He paused, then added, "But even I, the sect leader, don't know the whereabouts of this Langya Staff."
"Could it be in Tang Yi's coffin? I've always found this matter strange. If Tang Yi died after jumping off the summit of Mount Shu, who brought her body back to Mount Shu? Or did she not die that day and return to Tang Family Fortress on her own? Or is this just a tombstone erected for Tang Yi by someone else, with an empty coffin inside, and she has actually already been buried in Mount Shu?"
Mo Xi had already vaguely guessed that the Langya Staff was missing, and her request to see it was just a ploy to get Tang Huan to talk. As the saying goes, one should not accept a reward without merit, and having received Tang Huan's jade pearl for nothing, she secretly resolved to find the Langya Staff for him no matter what.
Tang Huan nodded and said, "It seems we can't avoid disturbing Senior Tang Yi. I'm going to dig up the grave, would you like to come along, Miss?"
Mo Xi teased, "Is this the first time the dignified Sect Leader Tang has done such a despicable thing? Does he need to find an accomplice to embolden him?" After a pause, she raised her right hand and chuckled, "Let me make this clear first, I am disabled. I will just watch from the sidelines."
Tang Huan laughed and said, "You've only just gotten a little better, and you're already being so naughty. Don't move around." After a pause, he coaxed her, "Yes, I'll do all the naughty things. You just need to watch from the side." In reality, he couldn't bear to let her lay a hand on him.
Tang Huan first tested the water temperature in the copper basin with her own hand before gently placing Mo Xi's hand into the basin. She then slowly pinched the water with her index finger and thumb and asked, "Does it still hurt after the medicine was applied?"
Mo Xi shook her head and smiled, "You healed me so well, but I have no consultation fee to give you."
It was meant as a joke, but unexpectedly, Tang Huan said, "You earn all your money with blood and sweat. I just want you to be well, and I don't want anything else."
Mo Xi was speechless for a moment, then said calmly, "This hand is stained with blood. Doesn't it hurt when you hold it?"
Tang Huan looked up into her deep, calm eyes, his expression turning solemn. He said, "Who in this world is truly clean? I myself have countless lives on my hands. As long as you are safe and sound, I don't care about anything else."
Mo Xi said softly, "I once held a knife to your neck, and you didn't even hold it against me?"
Tang Huan smiled and said, "Thank you for sparing my life, young lady."
Mo Xi muttered, "It's all because you poisoned me first, how could I dare to kill you?"
Tang Huan slowly intertwined his fingers with hers in the water and whispered, "I was the one who poisoned her first, and I regret it deeply."
After saying this, the two remained silent for a moment.
It wasn't until the water gradually cooled down that Tang Huan realized what was happening. She quickly dried the woman's hands and gently applied the unique Qili powder to the wound.
As soon as the medicine was applied, Mo Xi felt a cool sensation on her wrist, which she found very pleasant. She praised, "This medicine is good. It seems different from the one I used last time."
"Yes, this is freshly made. It's perfect for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis." Tang Huan was delighted to receive the praise and said with a smile, "Remember to have dinner at Qinghui Pavilion later."
Mo Xi thought to herself: So she got to be treated like a guinea pig... Little did she know that Tang Huan had consulted many medical books and stayed up all night to finish the product.
Mo Xi would never forget being treated to a meal by others, but she never expected that Tang Huan would come to invite her personally at dusk.
The two began their meal as soon as they arrived.
Mo Xi sat down gracefully. The cups, plates, and dishes in front of her all looked very familiar. Sure enough, she heard Lü Yun say with a smile, "The things that Miss used last time, Fourth Young Master has had them carefully kept."
Tang Huan said softly to Mo Xi, "I know you would never bring it up even if you were missing something. But you are a girl, and I don't know what you need for daily life. It's all arranged by Lüyun."
Mo Xi turned to Lü Yun and smiled, "Lü Yun is the most clever of all. Thank you." Seeing Lü Yun standing by her side, she said, "You sit down too."
Green Cloud shook her head and smiled, "I appreciate your hospitality, Miss, but I absolutely cannot sit here." She paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and winked, "Fourth Young Master just gave us double our monthly wages yesterday. I don't know if it's because you're here, Miss. But I do know that if I sit here, we'll all lose it." Without another word, she took her leave and dashed off.
Tang Huan said in a low voice, "This girl is getting more and more unruly."