The Chaotic Scroll, Chapter Fourteen: Mr. Snow (Part Two)
Updated: 2008-10-04 15:09:33 Word Count: 3621
For the first three days after release, there will be two updates each day. This is the first update.
Mr. Xue sat down opposite her, his eyes crinkling with laughter as he stared at her.
Xiao Man had no idea what he was up to, so she could only try to remain calm and stare at him.
After a while, he suddenly lowered his eyes and smiled softly: "I saw the bronze jue in Zexiu's bundle. It seems that you have found the five corners of Zhenbei first."
Is he planning to take the Five Corners route? There's no need to tell her then. She's already in his hands. Forget about the Five Corners route and the map; he could crush her with a single finger right now, and there's nothing she can do about it.
"Tell me about how you found the Five Corners," he kindly suggested.
So Xiaoman told him in detail how she fell into the cave in the hot spring, how she discovered the treasure, how she entered the tomb, and how she discovered that there was a large amount of saltpeter and sulfur buried under the tomb, which would explode once the mechanism was activated.
Mr. Xue listened with great interest, blinking occasionally. After she finally finished speaking, he couldn't wait to ask, "So, it's because you triggered the mechanism that the saltpeter and sulfur below started burning?"
Xiao Man said calmly, "Perhaps, because I am not the real mistress. Maybe the order of entry was wrong, or maybe those mistresses didn't like others going to their tombs. Who knows?"
Mr. Xue rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a tattered map. He unfolded it, pointed to the eight dots circled on it, and asked, "Why are there eight dots? What does this mean?"
"Because only four of the five corners were found, the one in the middle wasn't marked on the map. Zexiu said that the five directions are further divided into yin and yang, with the yang places hiding the five corners and the yin places containing the treasures."
Mr. Xue nodded. He folded the map neatly and handed it to Xiaoman: "Here you go."
Huh? Isn't he going to take it? Isn't he Tian Sha Shi Fang? Wasn't Tian Sha Shi Fang going to seize the Five Corners?
Xiaoman was completely confused.
As if sensing her confusion, Mr. Xue kindly raised a finger: "Not all of the Ten Directions of Heavenly Fiends like to meddle in these kinds of things. Those who are interested can go and snatch the treasure, and those who aren't can just watch the show. It's very simple. I have absolutely no interest in the mysterious things like Cangya City, and as for dirty work like searching for treasure, how could a perfect man like me possibly do it?"
Xiao Man couldn't help but shiver.
Mr. Xue stood up and paced around the room, Xiaoman's eyes following his every move. She had never met this type of man before. He seemed unkind, yet gentle and kind, as if he didn't want to harm her. But his every word and action was mysterious and unpredictable, even a little creepy.
"You didn't tell Zexiu you weren't the young mistress, did you?" His words made Xiaoman's heart sink.
This was a deep-seated worry for her, something she usually avoided even thinking about. She had lied to him, simply because she was greedy for his kindness, stealing affection that wasn't rightfully hers. But... she truly didn't want to let go. She had nothing to begin with, like a country bumpkin who'd never seen the world. A sudden stroke of good fortune had blinded her, and even knowing it wasn't hers, she clung to it tightly. She wouldn't let go, more stubborn than a dog.
Once she let go, she had nothing left. Just like before, a penniless nobody inside and out, living a silly, happy life, trying to please everyone.
Having witnessed beautiful scenery, one can no longer tolerate mediocrity.
This is her tragedy.
Mr. Xue walked to her side, gently lifted her chin, and said softly, "You are a pretty girl, smart and charming. Many boys would like you and want to spend their lives with you. That's a stable and happy life. Why covet something that is not meant to be yours?"
Xiao Man didn't say anything.
Mr. Xue grabbed her sleeve, gently playing with the tassels, his voice softer than silk: "You know nothing about Zexiu. Do you know his background? He's young now, always wanting to run around, everything is new and exciting to him. When he's older and understands responsibility, he'll realize that there can never be true equality between people. There are strict class divisions, and people of one class can only be with people of the same class. Crossing the line will always be punished. Not only him, but you will be punished too. I am his third uncle. No uncle wants his nephew to be hurt by a woman, and you will hurt him sooner or later, so I came."
Xiaoman felt like she was losing her voice, as if even opening her mouth was incredibly difficult, a hundred times harder than trekking through mountains and rivers.
"...I won't hurt him."
Mr. Xue laughed and said, "Then I'll tell him today that you're not the young master. Do you think he won't be hurt?"
Xiao Man's wrist trembled, and her voice shook: "He...no, he doesn't like me...at most, he just feels embarrassed..."
Mr. Xue shook his head: "Zexiu has never been so devoted to a girl, even risking his life. I know him better than you do."
Is that really the case? Zexiu, his heart is like a labyrinthine intricate design, its depths unfathomable from any angle. Perhaps he hides it too well, or perhaps she is simply hesitant and timid. She is both yearning for it and unable to believe it, yet, in any case, his kindness should not be wasted on a counterfeit; the feeling of being deceived must be awful.
"His injuries are so severe that his family must know about them. His father should arrive tomorrow. Who do you think you are? Would you want to see this scene? I don't want to hurt you, but it's good that you realize your place sooner rather than later. As the saying goes, a short pain is worse than a long one. What do you say?"
Xiao Man was stunned for a long time before suddenly saying, "What... does he do...?"
Mr. Xue smiled and said, "They were imperial merchants in the past, but not anymore. I can't say exactly what they did, as I left that family a long time ago. Generally speaking, their power was even greater than that of your maternal grandfather."
They're definitely rich. And ridiculously rich at that.
Xiao Man took a breath, unsure of what to say.
Mr. Xue gently tucked a stray hair behind her ear and said softly, "Little Man, be good. Once your leg injury heals, leave him. The ways of the martial world are not for you. Take the money, go back to your hometown, find a kind and honest man to marry, and you'll be better off living this illusory life that you can't grasp."
That's nonsense. If she could leave, she would have left long ago. Why would he need to say that? These rich people talk like it's nothing. How could she leave? Where could she go? She'd probably be caught by Tianquan the moment she stepped out, and then chopped to pieces by the enraged Buguishan. Even if Buguishan didn't bother her, the martial arts world knew she was a mistress, and others didn't know the truth. Could she possibly have a peaceful life?
Mr. Xue continued, “Even if you both want to be together, and Zexiu insists on being with you, and you refuse to leave, your relationship won’t last long. Don’t forget, your social statuses are vastly different, and you and he grew up in completely different environments. Once the initial excitement wears off, many conflicts will arise between you, and one day he will leave you. The hardest thing to overcome between people is class; you and he are not of the same social standing.”
Xiao Man finally lost her patience and stood up abruptly, only to aggravate her broken leg. She quickly sat back down in pain and snapped, "Stop talking about class and status! Who's more noble than whom?! Do you have an extra mouth or a nose? My liking him has nothing to do with class! Does liking someone have class distinctions?!"
She pointed at his nose and said, "You're all so selfish! You and that fan-wielding girl left the family to do what you like, had your fun, and then came back to lecture the younger generation about what they can and can't do. What right do you have to criticize others? Besides, what happens between Zexiu and me is our business. I'm happy today, and even if I'm abandoned tomorrow, I have nothing to say. You don't need to keep saying these unpleasant things to me. Anyone can talk big! I'll say that all good things must come to an end! Today's rich person might become a penniless pauper like me tomorrow. Who will you talk to about status then?"
Mr. Xue stared at her blankly, as if a flower had suddenly grown on her nose.
After unleashing a torrent of curses, Xiao Man picked up her cup, downed the contents, let out a long sigh, and finally felt satisfied.
Mr. Xue suddenly clapped his hands lightly and laughed, "You really have courage. Well said, very well."
Then he added, "But you've vented your anger, can that really change the facts? The disparity in your social status is a fact, and those facts won't change just because you say a few words. Do you have the courage to say it, and the courage to do it?"
Xiao Man glared at him: "I don't know any facts, I only know that I have to live each day to the fullest. What you're saying makes sense, but it doesn't work on me. So don't waste your breath. You can't make me sad and back down, not even God can do that."
Mr. Xue picked her up and smiled, his eyes crinkling into crescents: "Little Man lives so freely and unrestrainedly, it's truly enviable. No wonder my hot-tempered nephew fell for you. Alright, let's go back. I'll support you both to the end."
It seems she was... tricked for no reason.
Still feeling a little guilty, she gently tugged at his collar and asked in a soft voice, "Um... cough cough, are you... are you really going to tell him the truth today? It's okay to wait a few days..."
Mr. Xue glared at him: "Why should I tell him? I haven't seen anything this funny in a long time. I want to see the show to the very end."
Wow, so this was all part of a good show?
As they went downstairs, a warm breeze brushed against their faces, ruffling their clothes.
He suddenly whispered, "You should be nicer to him, because he's a pitiful child who can only live like a hedgehog."
Xiao Man looked up at his alluring face, wanting to ask why, but couldn't bring herself to ask.
Because she suddenly realized that Zexiu was actually the same as her, never able to speak his true feelings clearly, and rejecting anyone's approach. She had countless masks, while he had countless thorns.
The Chaotic Scroll, Chapter Fifteen: Mr. Snow (Part Three)
Updated: 2008-10-04 15:09:34 Word Count: 6128
For the first three days after release, there will be two updates per day. This is the second update.
In the end, Zexiu's father didn't come; instead, another elder from the clan seemed to arrive, and even Mr. Xue couldn't quite identify him. This distinction between the main and branch families was indeed perplexing. Accompanying this elder were several female elders from the main family; Xiaoman had asked Mr. Xue if they were Zexiu's mother, but he shook his head.
Zexiu has no mother.
This is strange. People can't just spring out of a rock, so how can someone not have a mother? Mr. Xue said that Zexiu's mother was someone who was forbidden to be mentioned in the entire family. Over time, many people forgot that such a person had ever existed.
It's said she had mental problems, was constantly rambling and paranoid, and eventually even contemplated killing her son and then herself. Zexiu's father had no choice but to confine her. When Zexiu was fifteen, his mother died. It seems that from that time on, Zexiu wandered the streets for years, never returning home.
Xiao Man sighed, remembering her own mother who had also died in madness, and couldn't help but wipe away a tear of sympathy and sorrow.
They're all unfortunate children; a child without a mother is like a blade of grass...
In wealthy families like this, the clan leader would definitely have three wives and four concubines. Even her poor father liked to have affairs and take a second wife, let alone the rich. Zexiu wasn't the eldest son, and he seemed to look like his mother, which made his father dislike him. Under the nagging and gossip of his aunts and uncles, it was already a good result that he didn't become a pervert.
As Mr. Xue left, he said something meaningful: "If you have nothing else to do, you can go take a stroll in front. Zexiu can't come to the back because a group of people are watching him, can't you go see him in front?"
Xiao Man looked down at her left leg, which was still gripping the board. She was supposed to take the board and wander around? How was she supposed to wander around? He could have just told her to go find Ze Xiu. These people, they just love playing the deep game, they can't even speak plainly.
Duan Hui indeed brought her a pair of crutches and a wheelchair. She encouraged her to go out for a walk: "Xiao Man, look how nice the weather is today. Staying cooped up inside isn't good for your bones. You've never been to the garden before, shall I take you there?"
Xiaoman was stuffing pastries into her mouth, her mouth full of crumbs, when she looked up at him and said, "Last time you said you'd take me to the garden, but we ended up going to the servants' quarters instead. They were all male maids dressed as women, and my eyes were spinning."
Duan Hui covered her mouth and laughed: "Mr. Xue likes this kind of thing, and everyone is just trying to please him. The master also can't stand his character, so he'd rather let him make his own way outside and not see him."
No way, Mr. Xue likes men too?!
As if sensing her confusion, Duan Hui quickly shook her head and said, "Don't overthink it. Mr. Xue's interest is just... well, a little strange. He's a very good person."
Oh. It's just that your interests are a bit strange—that's already pretty weird, isn't it?
In the end, she remained in her wheelchair, pushed by Duanhui to see the scenery. Mr. Xue seemed quite wealthy; his mansion was enormous. Although the interior decorations were rather eerie, the surrounding mountains and rocks revealed the owner's refined taste. It was the air of a wealthy family.
She followed the pebbled path. There were maids sweeping, fetching water, trimming flowers, and wiping windows—all dressed in bright red and green. But Xiaoman knew very well that it was just a facade; in reality, they were all men!
As Duan Hui pushed her along slowly, she said softly, "Young Master Zexiu hasn't been here for many years. He used to have a very good relationship with Mr. Xue and Second Master Tuan Shanzi. But after his mother's accident, he stopped talking to everyone. Mr. Xue is actually very happy that we were able to bring Young Master Zexiu here to stay for a few days. He heard that Young Master Zexiu had stayed with Second Master Tuan Shanzi for a while, and he was so jealous that he couldn't eat."
Why be jealous of this? Is he a child?
Xiao Man shook her head: "Why would he take his anger out on his second and third uncles when his mother got into trouble? Wasn't it his father who locked her up?"
Duan Hui sighed and whispered, "It's a long story. The master was extremely superstitious. Zexiu's mother was his third concubine. When the young master turned one, one of the guests happened to be a fortune teller. She said she was a fox spirit reincarnated, and that young master Zexiu was the fox spirit's son, destined to squander the master's fortune and bewitch him to a terrible end." The eldest master believed it and originally planned to kick the mother and son out, but the second master—the one known as the "Fan Master"—fought desperately to stop him, spouting a string of platitudes, and that was that. However, a few years later, rumors spread that the second master had an affair with Zexiu's mother. Enraged, the second master left the family, and she was placed under house arrest, quickly going insane. The third master—who was Mr. Xue at the time—was busy with his own affairs and had no time to deal with these matters. After Zexiu grew up, he begged Mr. Xue and the "Fan Master" to release his mother, but no one wanted to cause trouble, and in the end, his mother died. The young master became a different person, refusing to go home again. Even Mr. Xue wondered where he had learned his skills, managing to cripple Yelü Wenjue's arm…”
Xiao Man was stunned, leaning back in her wheelchair, lost in thought.
Thinking back to his rebellious youth, at only fifteen years old, his mother died, and he was treated as the son of a vixen. Those days must not have been very comfortable.
Duan Hui stopped her wheelchair and smiled, "Xiao Man, let me show you a treasure. This is Mr. Xue's treasure, and it's everyone's treasure too."
He carefully took out a piece of white silk from his sleeve, and presented it to Xiaoman with great care, repeatedly instructing her, "Just look at it, don't mess it up, and don't let Mr. Xue know. If he finds out that I secretly took this out to show you, he will definitely scold me."
Xiao Man unfurled the white silk, revealing a light ink painting of a young man. Three enormous black swords hung at his waist, his long hair cascading down to his waist, and his wide collar was slightly open. He reached out, seemingly to catch something, his eyelashes slightly raised. His face was breathtakingly beautiful, his brows furrowed with a hint of arrogance. A melancholic coldness emanated from him, like a piece of exquisite porcelain, or the sharp edge of a newly drawn sword. Unstoppable.
It was Zexiu. He was so beautiful as a teenager that he was almost demonic; no wonder his father believed he was the son of a vixen.