Luzhou Moon - Chapter 130
Mo Li was filled with hatred, but knowing he had fallen into a trap, he could only negotiate with Yu Hezhi again. Yu Hezhi offered to teach Mo Li part of the key techniques of the Junlei Heart Sutra, on the condition that Mo Li's condition improve and he must return the Divine Pearl. Mo Li indeed received some incantations and, by practicing accordingly, gradually dissolved his original Yin-cold true energy. However, it seemed that the incantations were not yet complete, and when he tried to ask Yu Hezhi for them again, Yu Hezhi demanded the return of the Divine Pearl as a condition for giving him the other half of the key techniques. After this, Yu Hezhi left the Bliss Valley with the Divine Pearl, and Mo Li continued to cultivate according to the other half of the techniques he had left behind. Unexpectedly, in less than half a year, the true energy within Mo Li's body gradually became chaotic, fluctuating between good and bad, as if it were beyond his control. Enraged, he led his men out of the valley to search for Yu Hezhi, which is why he encountered the people of Seven Star Island…
As Lian Junchu spoke, Yue Ruzheng was sitting with him in the carriage, traveling towards Luzhou. She listened with trepidation, and after a long pause, she finally said, "How could the Junlei Heart Sutra be in my master's hands? Wasn't it always on your Seven Star Island?"
Lian Junchu looked at her with confusion. "Who told you that the Junlei Heart Sutra was on Seven Star Island?"
"That mental cultivation method was originally passed down by Hai Qiongzi to Master's father, and later kept by Senior Brother Shao Yang's father... Didn't he commit suicide after losing a martial arts competition? The mental cultivation method disappeared from that time onwards, so Master naturally thought it was taken away by your father..." Yue Ruzheng whispered.
Lian Junchu leaned against the carriage and said calmly, "I've never heard of this object ever existing on the island. It must have fallen into Yu Hezhi's hands back then. He possessed the cultivation method but couldn't improve his internal strength, so he was always thinking about retrieving the Divine Pearl."
Yue Ruzheng was speechless, her spirits low. She lifted the curtain and gazed at the scenery outside. The fields in the distance were desolate, still a bleak sight. She stared blankly at the endless expanse of withered grass and said, "So, Su Muchen told you all this because he wanted you to kill your martial uncle?"
Lian Junchu paused for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Yue Ruzheng continued gazing out the window, her voice low and gentle, "Are you really going to do it?"
"Ruzheng..." Lian Junchu took a deep breath and whispered, "He not only killed my eldest sister, but many things along the way were caused by him, you know? To escape Mo Li's pursuit, he deliberately injured Chongming, then lured the people from Bliss Valley to capture Chongming and the others, his purpose being to use Seven Star Island as a pretext to eliminate Bliss Valley. After you discovered his whereabouts, he attacked you, almost killing you."
Yue Ruzheng felt both laughable and pathetic. Her senior uncle, who had watched her grow up since childhood, turned out to be this kind of person, while she had been kept in the dark all along.
"Is Su Muchen's word really credible?" She asked, knowing it was futile, but she still asked in the end.
Lian Junchu said helplessly, "Do you think he still has any reason to lie to me? Besides, whether it's true or not, can't we confront him face to face after we meet Yu Hezhi?"
Yue Ruzheng frowned, "But I don't think Master will believe us..."
Lian Junchu sat down beside her and said, "I already thought of that. Don't worry, nothing will happen."
On their way back to Luzhou, they passed through Tiantai. Yue Ruzheng suddenly remembered that Wei Heng had mentioned that Lian Junchu had come to this place because she was searching for Hai Qiongzi. Gazing at the distant green mountains, she couldn't help but ask, "Little Tang, did you live here before you were nine years old?"
Lian Junchu was looking out the window when she heard her question, and she nodded.
"Shall we go down and take a look?" Yue Ruzheng leaned on his shoulder, wanting to touch upon everything he had experienced.
Lian Junchu hesitated for a moment, then got off the carriage with her and accompanied her to the end of the road leading to Chicheng Mountain in Tiantai.
"Ruzheng, come with me into the mountains." Lian Junchu looked at the secluded mountains and suddenly turned to Yue Ruzheng to make this request.
Yue Ruzheng, who also wanted to see what his childhood home looked like, readily agreed. The two walked together along the mountain path for a while, where dark red rocks towered into the clouds, the surroundings were silent, and occasionally a lone bird would fly across the sky and disappear into the deep forest. Suddenly, the distant sound of a flute rose from the silent mountains, drifting through the clouds and resonating deep within their hearts.
As Yue Ruzheng listened to the flute music, she felt as if she were floating on clouds, utterly insignificant, like a drop in the ocean. Suddenly, various images flashed through her mind: towering waves, raging flames, and fleeting figures, interspersed with mournful cries…
The sound of the flute grew increasingly low and mournful, swirling and surging. Her mind was in chaos when a sudden throbbing pain shot through the back of her head, causing her to cry out in pain and clutch her head as she squatted down on the ground.
"Ruzheng?!" Lian Junchu exclaimed in surprise, quickly crouching down and kneeling before her. "What's wrong?!"
"Headache!" She frowned, curled up into a ball, and gripped his shoulders tightly to keep from collapsing. Lian Junchu remembered that she had mentioned having headaches before when she was in Nan Yandang, but it had never been this severe. He anxiously supported her with his body and said, "Can you stand up? I'll take you back to the car to rest."
Seeing that he was also struggling greatly and could only barely stand up on his own, Lian Junchu noticed her pale face and couldn't help but say, "How about I carry you on my back?"
Yue Ruzheng leaned all her strength on him, panting, "No, I don't have the strength to hold on to you, I'll fall..."
Lian Junchu paused for a moment, then said softly, "Then I'll walk with you slowly."
Yue Ruzheng didn't want to say much, only grunted in response, and then leaned on him, walking unsteadily. When they returned to the carriage, the driver who was waiting there saw this and quickly set off to take the two of them to Taizhou City.
After entering the city, the carriage headed straight for the clinic. Yue Ruzheng leaned against Lian Junchu's lap, and seeing the unease in his eyes, she whispered, "Little Tang, don't be afraid. I've had this illness for a long time."
Lian Junchu looked down at her, her heart filled with worry, but she dared not show it easily. She simply comforted her, saying, "I'm not afraid. Seeing your headache makes me feel a little uncomfortable."
Yue Ruzheng pursed her lips and forced a smile.
Upon arriving at the clinic, the coachman helped Yue Ruzheng down. After examining her, the doctor had a servant untie Yue Ruzheng's braids and then reached out to touch the back of her head. The moment he touched her, Yue Ruzheng felt another sharp pain, causing the doctor to furrow his thick, white eyebrows.
"Has the young lady suffered a severe blow to the back of her head?" the old gentleman asked slowly, scrutinizing Yue Ruzheng.
Yue Ruzheng forced herself to stay alert, thought for a moment, and then said, "At most, I only bumped into things and fell a little."
The doctor pondered for a moment and said, "This is an internal injury that has accumulated over time. There may be blood stasis and blockage, which is why it flares up from time to time. It may worsen if you get emotionally agitated or suffer another impact."
Yue Ruzheng sat there blankly. Lian Junchu leaned down and said, "Ruzheng, could it be that you were injured when you were little and you've forgotten?"
Yue Ruzheng said blankly, "Maybe so... Anyway, there are many things I don't remember."
Lian Junchu sighed. Seeing that she couldn't explain it clearly herself, the doctor could only prescribe pain-relieving and calming medicine for her based on her current condition, and told her to rest more and not to get angry.
After the two left, they found an inn to stay in. Lian Junchu took her to her room and, seeing that she was still in a daze, let her lie down on the bed.
"If you can't remember, don't think about it anymore. The medicine will be brought up when it's ready." He sat down by the bed and pulled the blanket over her.
Yue Ruzheng lay on her side, the pain in the back of her head had lessened slightly, but she was still groggy, and her mind was far from calm. She hugged the blanket, thinking of the peaceful and tranquil days of the past few days, and then of the changes that had occurred after meeting Su Muchen, and couldn't help but feel disappointed and frustrated.
Lian Junchu silently gazed at her for a moment, then leaned down and said, "You're probably just too tired these past few days, and you're constantly thinking about what Su Muchen said, which is why you've got another headache."
Yue Ruzheng wanted to nod, but then she suddenly thought of the deep and distant sound of the flute, and for some reason, an indescribable fear rose in her heart.
"Little Tang..." Yue Ruzheng subconsciously reached out her hand. Lian Junchu sat down next to her, and his sleeve hung quietly on the side of Yue Ruzheng's face, as if he were gently stroking her.
She turned her face to the side, pressing it tightly against the slightly cool sleeve. Although Lian Junchu wasn't carrying his twin swords, the cuffs were still covered in tiny thorns. He leaned back slightly, looking cautious, and said, "Ruzheng, be careful not to get pricked."
Yue Ruzheng still pressed his hand close to her sleeve, afraid of hurting her, so he bent down and gently stroked her cheek with the soft part of his hand. Yue Ruzheng smiled faintly, a slight curve to her lips. Although she couldn't understand the feeling of him soothing her with his hand, as long as he was by her side, he was the most precious support she could rely on.
That night, perhaps because of the herbal medicine she had taken, or perhaps because of the anxiety she had felt in the past few days, Yue Ruzheng became sleepy very early. In her hazy state, she only remembered that Lian Junchu had been watching over her bedside. She only said a few words to him before drifting off to sleep.
In a daze, she seemed to hear the faint sound of a flute again, and a white shadow lurked nearby. She dragged her heavy steps, trying to catch up, but thorns grew everywhere, constantly hindering her. Before she knew it, she seemed to have reached the seaside again. Sunlight shimmered on the azure sea, and the clear, melodious sound of wind chimes carried on the wind. She followed the sound and saw her aunt, dressed in white and blue, sitting at the bow of a boat on the other side of the sea.
She hadn't seen her aunt for a long time, but her aunt's appearance remained unchanged. She ran over and stood in the middle of the shallow water. The small boat rose and fell with the waves, and her aunt at the bow of the boat, like her reflection in the water, seemed to be veiled by a thin gauze.
Yue Ruzheng stood right in front of her, but she only smiled faintly and didn't say anything.