The Jianghu of Feng Qingcheng and Mo Xibei

Chapter 90

Volume 3, Chapter 19: Master and Disciple

There was no one outside the window, although Chu Junfeng was not slow at all when he leaped into the courtyard.

"Do you know who came?" After looking around for a while, Chu Junfeng couldn't even see the hem of the spy's clothes. He was puzzled and naturally noticed that Mo Xibei hadn't come out of the house.

“Anyone who dares to spy on us must be a master. But since they’re just spying, they don’t intend to subdue us yet. Anyway, our whereabouts have been exposed, so why be so nervous?” Mo Xibei said casually, but he stood at the window, seemingly sniffing the air, before turning back into the house and quickly packing his clothes. “Let’s find another place. I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep well at night if we stay here.”

"Do you have a better place to go?" Chu Junfeng raised an eyebrow, his mind racing as he considered where he could find a safer place to stay.

"No, but it might be available soon." Mo Xibei shook his head and then nodded, urging Chu Junfeng repeatedly when he saw that he didn't move.

Neither of them had much luggage. Chu Junfeng returned to the room and came out a moment later with a small bundle in his hand. Seeing Mo Xibei place a small ingot of silver on the table in the room, he couldn't help but smile, "You've really thought of the owner of this place."

"It's only right that the host and guests have a good time." Mo Xibei nodded, signaling him to follow, and then drifted out alone.

The two walked very fast along the way. The mountains were covered with lush trees, and the forest paths were difficult to navigate at night. However, Mo Xibei walked without hesitation and did not even need to rely on the stars to determine his direction.

The two traveled like this for about an hour. Chu Junfeng even noticed that at least twice during that hour, they circled back to the same place. Then they continued on different paths, but judging from Mo Xibei's determination, it didn't seem like they were lost. He could only swallow his doubts and remain silent.

"Alright." He walked on in silence for a while longer. Mo Xibei finally stopped. A small open space suddenly appeared in the woods, where a middle-aged man dressed in a blue cloth robe, with a thin frame, stood with his hands behind his back. When he saw the two of them arrive, a smile appeared on his lips and eyebrows.

"Master!" Just as Chu Junfeng was trying to figure out the identity of the person in front of him, Mo Xibei jumped over happily and grabbed the middle-aged man's hand.

"How old are you? Still acting like a child. Let your master take a look, and I'll know my disciple won't die so easily. Has the Blood Sea Fragrance poison been neutralized?" The middle-aged man's smile deepened as he pulled Mo Xibei close, looking her up and down. He then took her pulse, his tone filled with satisfaction.

"I don't know if it's resolved or not. But this year, I've been in good health. I haven't been sick or in pain." Mo Xibei's laughter was as crisp as silver bells, and she jumped up and down in front of her master with a childlike manner. This surprised Chu Junfeng, who was standing to the side.

“Your earth veins are stable, so it seems to me that you are alright.” The middle-aged man nodded, then said with a hint of reproach, “You child, such a big thing happened, now that you are safe, you should have brought back some news. You don’t know how much your mother… and your master have worried about you this past year.”

“I know, I know Master is thinking of me.” Mo Xibei paused for a moment, then laughed again, shaking his master’s arm. “See, as soon as I smelled the fragrance of osmanthus, I rushed over here. Master, look how sharp my nose is. Osmanthus flowers are everywhere, but I can smell the fragrance of the silver osmanthus in our mountains.”

"Yes, you're the best. If you could be less mischievous and more obedient, your master would have fewer gray hairs." The middle-aged man shook his head and smiled helplessly, then remembered Chu Junfeng who had come with Mo Xibei. "Who is this young man? Bei'er, is he your friend?"

"Yes, he's a friend I met in the martial arts world, his name is Chu Junfeng. Brother Chu, this is my master." Mo Xibei only remembered that there was someone following behind him after hearing his master's question, so he gave a brief introduction.

Chu Junfeng noticed that Mo Xibei did not introduce his master's name, so he simply clasped his hands in greeting and addressed him as a senior.

"So it's the renowned Young Hero Chu." The middle-aged man's smile remained unchanged as he replied calmly, "My unworthy disciple must have caused Young Hero Chu a lot of trouble along the way. I hope you will forgive him."

"Senior, you are too kind. Miss Mo is meticulous in her work and exceptionally intelligent. She handles matters with composure. It is I who have caused Miss Mo a lot of trouble." Chu Junfeng quickly clasped his hands in a salute again, lowering his head and keeping his eyes down, appearing extremely humble. Strangely enough, for some reason, despite Master Mo Xibei's refined and scholarly demeanor, even smiling as he spoke, Chu Junfeng felt extremely nervous inside.

"Young Master Chu is not only a leader among the younger generation in martial arts, but his words are also impeccable. Truly, the younger generation surpasses the older. This martial world should belong to you." The middle-aged man seemed quite emotional, and after a slight sigh, he said, "Bei'er, the place you are living in now is indeed secluded enough, but it is impossible for two young people like you to come to a small mountain village without attracting attention. Since your master can find you, others may also be able to find you. Your master called you here because he wants you to live in a more convenient and safer place."

“I know, that’s why I brought all my luggage.” Mo Xibei patted the bundle behind him. “Master hasn’t been in the capital for long. Has he already bought a private residence? I wonder if he’s even considered getting me a wife to help with the housework.”

"You silly child, you dare to joke with your master? Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?" The middle-aged man still smiled, but his tone was different from when he spoke to Chu Junfeng. It sounded more kind and gentle.

To Mo Xibei's slight surprise, the place his master brought them to was actually Plum Blossom Manor.

"Does she know I'm not dead?" After settling Chu Junfeng to rest, Mo Xibei knocked on the door and entered his master's room.

“Northwest, you are not enemies, she is your biological mother.” The master was sitting cross-legged in the room. When he heard Mo Northwest’s words, he opened his eyes and a sense of helplessness appeared in them.

“I didn’t say she was my enemy. I just don’t consider her my mother.” Mo Xibei sighed and found a chair to sit down. “Master, don’t blame me for being blunt, but she’s just using you. In her eyes and heart, what she can’t let go of has never been feelings. No matter how much you do for her, you can’t win anything back.”

“Bei’er, you…” The master’s eyes darkened, and it took him a long time to speak. “Child, you have misunderstood your mother too deeply. She may not love me, but her love for you is the same as that of all mothers in the world. When the news of your accident came back, she cried day and night and fell seriously ill. This illness lasted for more than half a year. After she recovered, her eyes were still damaged, and she still cannot see clearly. If she had not been so busy, how could the emperor have been so bewitched, neglecting state affairs and only thinking about alchemy and immortality all day long?”

Mo Xibei lowered his head and remained silent, fiddling with his fingers, sometimes making an eagle fly, sometimes a dog barking at the sun, having a great time.

"Your appearance at Fragrant Hills was reported to the palace two days ago. Your mother knew about it but didn't tell me. She didn't want to disturb your life." Seeing that Mo Xibei didn't react, the master had to continue, "It was my idea to find you. Your mother really misses you. I want you to secretly come to the palace with me these next few days so that she can see that you are safe and sound."

"Is it that simple?" Mo Xibei suddenly looked up, blinking repeatedly. "You won't let me do anything else?"

"Other things? What else?" The master was taken aback, completely bewildered. "Many things... I hope I'm just overthinking it. Master, it's getting late, I'm going to sleep." Mo Xibei looked at his master, somewhat helplessly. Before encountering love, one never knows what kind of person they will love. But once the heart is moved, and love is found, one no longer cares about gains or losses, or even the other's deception. Such a devoted person, looking across the world, is truly unparalleled except for the master.

“Go ahead, but Bei’er, your master must remind you that Chu Junfeng’s background is not simple. I heard that the most favored official in the Ministry of Personnel, Lord Tian, was originally just his page.” The master nodded slightly, and seeing Mo Xibei get up, he thought of this matter again. “I did see Lord Tian from afar a few times in the palace. He is not simple.”

Volume 3, Chapter 20: Clues

Mo Xibei didn't know whether her master's sudden mention of Tian Xin was intentional or unintentional. She just couldn't help but start to think about everything that had happened during this period, one by one.

At first glance, each event she encountered seemed accidental. She received an invitation from the martial arts alliance leader by chance, and coincidentally, she wanted to eat dried vegetable duck, so she went to join the fun. Then, she was attacked by unidentified people on the canal by chance, and coincidentally met Chu Junfeng and his servant Tian Xin. Later, she also coincidentally saved Murong Lianyun, and because of her playful disguise as a man, she formed a tragic love affair. Later still, she lost a match in the arena, the secret of the previous dynasty's treasure was revealed, the Eastern Depot appeared, the Murong family suffered, and she came to the capital to protect Murong Lianyun. Finally, her long-forgotten past was revealed. The emperor, incognito, came to investigate her identity, and coincidentally met Murong Lianyun. From then until now, Murong Lianyun has risen in status because of her son, Tian Xin has reached the pinnacle of officialdom, and Mu Feinan's whereabouts are unknown.

Too many coincidences were strung together at this moment, and Mo Xibei felt as if an invisible rope was tied around her neck, tightening little by little without her realizing it, making it hard for her to breathe.

Not only could she not breathe, but it also felt as if a huge boulder weighing a thousand pounds was pressing on her chest, which she could not budge no matter how hard she tried.

Everything has a cause and an effect, but what is the cause of everything before us, and what will the effect be?

"It's so late at night, why are you still standing here in a daze?" As she was trying to sort through the clues, both obvious and subtle, that had gathered in her mind, Chu Junfeng came over, wearing a robe. Only then did Mo Xibei realize that she had unknowingly walked into his courtyard.

"I was lost in thought and just left your place. So my feet just wouldn't obey me and I walked back here on my own," Mo Xibei said with a self-deprecating laugh. This Plum Blossom Manor was a gift from Empress Dowager Jiang, but she disliked everything related to the palace and refused to accept it. However, she had been there more than once or twice, yet she still managed to get lost.

"Is there something you want to say?" Chu Junfeng pondered for a moment. Mo Xibei was still wearing his daytime clothes, clearly not having gone back to his room to rest. More than an hour had passed since they last parted. If something wasn't wrong, why would Mo Xibei stand outside his courtyard in the middle of the night instead of going back to his room to rest?

Mo Xibei was somewhat speechless when Chu Junfeng asked her question. She did indeed have many questions she wanted to ask Chu Junfeng, but at this moment, she had only just sorted out her thoughts and hadn't considered many key points. Asking rashly might not be helpful to the truth, so she quickly smiled slightly. "No. I just reunited with my master. We were at his place just now. We were talking about some old things from our childhood, and we got lost in thought. It's getting late, so I guess I've disturbed your rest. You should go to sleep."

"Northwest!" Mo Northwest turned to leave, but his arm was suddenly grabbed by Chu Junfeng.

"What's wrong?" Mo Xibei feigned ignorance, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“Northwest, there are some things I want you to understand. I may have done things to wrong you in the past, but I never intended to hurt you. I’m staying by your side this time not only to make up for my past mistakes, but also to stand with you and face many unknowns. I know it’s hard for you to fully trust me, but please give me a chance to prove myself.” Chu Junfeng sighed. “So, if you have any doubts, feel free to ask me directly. I can tell you everything I know. Actually, at this point, holding back is pointless.”

“Since I dragged you back to the capital with me, it means I chose to trust you. I thought someone as smart as you would understand things better than I do.” Mo Xibei chuckled softly, a hint of teasing in his voice. “Alright, you’ve said all the nice things. All I can say to you is this: Can you go to sleep now?”

"Ha..." Chu Junfeng chuckled, released his hand, yawned, and said, "I thought you would ask me some questions about Tian Xin. We grew up together, after all, and I still feel a bit guilty about betraying him. But forget it, since you're not interested, I'd better keep quiet so I won't feel guilty."

"You..." Mo Xibei was both amused and exasperated. He stomped his foot and quickly made up his mind. Thinking about such a complicated problem was too taxing on his brain cells. Since someone else held the key to solving the mystery, there was no reason for him to sleep so comfortably. "I know you've been thinking about how to talk about Tian Xin for a long time. Fine, you won't be able to sleep if I don't tell you, so I'll reluctantly listen to what you have to say."