Valle del Hombre Salvaje de Qingshan

Capítulo 95

"Jia'er, your mother thought she would never see you again." When she saw Mo Xibei enter, Empress Dowager Jiang was very excited. She sat up, but then swayed and collapsed back onto the couch.

"The Empress Dowager summoned me here, naturally she has something to instruct me on. Although I don't want to get involved in this mess, it's not for you. If you have something to say, just say it quickly, I need to go back to sleep." Mo Xibei did not approach, but stood at the entrance from a distance.

"Jia'er, your mother is truly sorry for you, but you must believe me. If there were any other way, your mother would not want to involve you. But now, you are the only one your mother can trust and rely on." Empress Dowager Jiang's tears rolled down her cheeks, and after a long while she said, "This matter concerns life and death. I beg you, please help your brother."

"Your Majesty is joking. He is the Son of Heaven, ordained by Heaven. I am but a commoner, how could I possibly be of any help?" Mo Xibei smiled, his mood calm.

"Of course you can, as long as you're willing," Empress Dowager Jiang coughed a few times and said. "I know you've been coming to the palace every night for days because you have some suspicions. I'm not afraid to tell you that what you suspect is true."

"Really?" Mo Xibei was stunned. "You knew all this, yet you still let her enter the palace?"

"What else can we do? Letting her hide outside will only make things more uncontrollable. Rather than that, it's better to bring her under my nose. While I'm still old, let's see what tricks they can pull." Empress Dowager Jiang suddenly smiled, a chilling glint in her eyes. "Jia'er, in this world, only the three of us, mother and son, are connected by blood. Whether you like it or not, we share the same fate. I know you don't love the power and wealth of this palace, but given the current situation, only if your brother remains firmly on the throne can you live a carefree life. Whether it's an exchange or for your own future, we must join forces. I promise you, once this matter is settled, you can live however you want—power, wealth, freedom, it's all up to you. What do you say?"

“That sounds much better,” Mo Xibei nodded. “I’m a businessman, I only like to talk business. I should have been more direct a long time ago. Tell me what you need me to do first.”

I've been very busy and tired lately, and since it's nearing the end, I've been trying to write as well as possible, so the update speed has been slow. Please forgive me. Thank you in advance!

Volume 3, Chapter 27 (Part 1): Business

"Get rid of the person behind Tian Xin as soon as possible." Empress Dowager Jiang's body seemed to have recovered completely in an instant. She sat up straight, and her eyes were no longer dull and lifeless.

"If I have to do such complicated things, then what are the others doing?" Mo Xibei naturally guessed that what Empress Dowager Jiang wanted her to do must be very difficult. However, she had no idea what the person behind Tian Xin looked like, or what his age was. The difficulty level was too high, and it was obvious that the risk level was also high.

"If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back in the spring breeze. The others will naturally have to cooperate with you to eradicate them completely in one go." Empress Dowager Jiang smiled slightly. "Jia'er, I know this matter is difficult. If it weren't difficult, I wouldn't have asked you to go. This is like fighting a tiger without the help of your own brothers. The others are all watching and waiting. They will find a way out if things improve. It's unsettling to entrust such an important matter to them."

"But how can you be so sure that Tian Xin has someone backing her? What if she doesn't?" Mo Xibei asked the first question without giving a direct answer.

“There must be such a person. I have been observing Tian Xin for more than just a day or two. Although he is cunning, he is too stubborn and impetuous. If there is no mastermind behind him, he could not have orchestrated such a scheme by himself.” Empress Dowager Jiang shook her head. “Moreover, your master went to his residence to investigate secretly, but he was almost exposed. This shows that there is a first-rate master in his mansion, whose skill is no less than that of your master.”

"How could I possibly deal with such a master? Wouldn't that be just throwing my life away?" Mo Xibei sneered. "I'm not going to do such a losing business."

"Jia'er, how could your mother send you to your death? I asked your master, and he said that you have received his true teachings over the years. Although your skill is slightly inferior to his, you are not far behind. As for Chu Junfeng's skill, it is on par with yours, and may even be slightly better. If you join forces, dealing with an opponent who is slightly stronger than either of you individually should be no problem." Empress Dowager Jiang did not hesitate, but instead appeared calm and composed after careful consideration.

"You really have considered everything perfectly. But firstly, I won't drag my friends into this mess, and secondly, they might not be willing to get involved." Mo Xibei felt a chill run through her bones. Although the room was stuffy and slightly hot, she still couldn't help but want to wear a thicker coat.

"Jia'er, you really are a child. You've never been by your mother's side since you were little, and I haven't had a chance to teach you. Although it's a bit late today, it's better than you still not understanding. A woman doesn't necessarily have to learn to do everything herself. What you should learn is how to get men to do things for you willingly. But, it doesn't really matter." Empress Dowager Jiang covered her mouth and smiled as she said this. Although she had become quite haggard and aged recently, her smile was still incredibly charming and captivating. "Chu Junfeng is now completely devoted to you. No matter what, he won't just watch you go to your death. As long as you go, he will definitely go with you. The result will be the same, so the process is irrelevant."

"Are you happy?" Mo Xibei suddenly changed the subject and asked abruptly.

"..." Empress Dowager Jiang was caught off guard by Mo Xibei's sudden question, which seemed completely unrelated to the current situation. She remained silent for a while before sighing and saying, "What is happiness? In my opinion, it is getting everything you want. You don't need to say anything else. Although you are my biological child, I have always known that you have never been the same as me. You were different when we were young, and you are even more different now. Neither of us can convince the other, so let's just be happy on our own."

“I didn’t intend to persuade you. I just want to say that I will do what you ask me to do, and it’s not all for you. So, in exchange, I hope that once this matter is settled, you can let my master go. He owes you nothing in his life. A person like him deserves happiness, not endless waiting, disappointment, and being used.” Mo Xibei turned to open the mechanism inside the door. “You can refuse, but it’s best not to live too selfishly in this life. If you’re willing to think about anything other than yourself and your power and wealth, then please let my master go.”

Volume 3, Chapter 27 (Part 2): Business

There was silence behind him for a long time, but the mechanisms of the secret room clicked open. Mo Xibei didn't turn around, and in a flash, he walked out.

The master was still guarding inside the hall, leaning against the window looking at the crescent moon. Hearing Mo Xibei's footsteps, he asked softly without turning his head, "What did your mother say to you?"

"Just some trivial matter." Mo Xibei smiled and leaned closer to look at the moon, then said, "Having seen so many moons, I still think the moon I saw in the mountains when I was a child was the brightest and most beautiful. Master, in a while, I'll go back to the mountains with you. I want to eat your stir-fried bamboo shoots, and um, your roasted pheasant."

"It's a wonder you haven't had enough of these dishes all these years." The chef laughed. "People who don't know you might think your chef is some kind of master chef, able to provide the renowned Boss Mo with two dishes he can never get enough of. But actually, those who know you well know that your chef only knows how to make these two dishes. So Boss Mo, who is extremely picky about food, has eaten these dishes almost every day since he was a child."

"That's because my master is a skilled cook. Although the ingredients are the same every day, the taste is different every time," Mo Xibei said with a smug look on his face.

"Yes, every meal tastes different. One meal the chicken was burnt, the next it's half-cooked; one meal the bamboo shoot salad had too much salt, the next it might have too much sugar." The chef chuckled. Back then, he was young too, a man who should have been wandering the world as a chivalrous hero, but instead he was dragging along a small but somewhat precocious child, having to be both father and mother, wishing he could learn sewing and mending from scratch, creating countless laughs. Now, thinking back, Mo Xibei's daily love of food might not have been entirely due to his own poor cooking skills back then.

"Master, you haven't answered me yet. Should we go back?" Mo Xibei chuckled lightly, pressing the issue relentlessly.

“Silly child, back then you were too young. Your master needed time and a relatively quiet and safe space to raise you, so we stayed in the mountains. But now you're grown up, the outside world is vast and boundless, and the sky is high and the birds fly freely. That thatched hut in the mountains is no longer suitable for you.” The master sighed, a hint of melancholy in his voice. “Besides, your master also wants to travel outside while he can still walk. You do want to eat dried bamboo shoots and roast chicken, I'll make them for you another day.”

“I’ve noticed a problem,” Mo Xibei frowned and pouted. “Master, I’ve realized that I always make mistakes in front of you, or at least, I always do things that might seem ridiculous, things that I later realize were impulsive and reckless.”

"In this world, there's only one road. A thousand people will walk it, and there will be a thousand ways to walk it. As long as you don't regret it, what does it matter how you walk it?" The master gently patted Mo Xibei's shoulder. "Child, the capital may not be suitable for you. I only hope that you can extricate yourself as soon as you can while you still can. Actually, I shouldn't have agreed to let your mother involve you, but I'm just an ordinary person with my own selfish motives. Don't blame me in the future, okay?"

"How could I blame you?" Mo Xibei shook his head. "I chose which path to take. It's late, I need to go back to sleep. Master, take care."

"Did your mother ask you to deal with the people behind Tian Xin?" Mo Xibei walked to the entrance of the hall, but her master suddenly called out to her, his tone rising slightly. Mo Xibei knew that this was a sign that he was angry.

"Is he very capable?" Mo Xibei didn't deny it, but tried to make his voice sound as relaxed as possible.

"You can't go, you're no match for him." The master's tone was very firm. In all these years, Mo Xibei had only heard this once when he mischievously ran down the mountain and injured two Qingcheng Sect disciples who were fighting over a man and a woman. As a result, he was also injured and was scolded.

"I didn't say I was going. How could someone as valuing of life as me possibly go and get involved with someone so much stronger than me? That would be insane." Mo Xibei shrugged, denying it to the end.

"Don't just agree with me and then forget your word when you do it," the master snorted. "That person is highly skilled in martial arts, so it's best if I deal with him. You're not allowed to interfere."

"Okay." Mo Xibei agreed quickly; as for what to do next, that was her own business.

"I'll go and talk to your mother," the master hurriedly instructed. "Don't do anything rash," he then activated the mechanism and entered the secret chamber.

In the vast palace, Mo Xibei was soon left alone. She had no interest in speculating how Empress Dowager Jiang would persuade her master. She simply opened the palace door lightly and leaped onto the roof of the opposite building.

At this time, the stars and moon had moved westward, and it was not long before dawn. Mo Xibei did not return to Plum Blossom Manor. Instead, after leaving the palace, he turned around and headed straight for Tian Xin's current residence.

Ever since Empress Dowager Jiang confirmed her suspicions, Mo Xibei had felt a persistent unease, and this unease ultimately stemmed from Honglu. A girl she had always hoped would find happiness; a seemingly happy wedding that concealed countless darkness; her own faked death and years of hiding in anonymity—it wasn't that she didn't want to visit her upon returning to the capital, but the recent turmoil and the inability to verify many speculations meant she couldn't and didn't want to involve Honglu prematurely. Therefore, she had no idea what kind of life Honglu was living, or whether Tian Xin had harbored any ill intentions towards her.

This was Mo Xibei's first visit to Tian Xin's residence, and also the first time she felt a headache coming on. Peeking into the mansion from a large tree, she immediately understood why Chu Junfeng's attempt to inquire about Honglu had ultimately failed. From the outside, the mansion appeared no different from the residences of high-ranking officials and nobles found everywhere in the capital, but its interior held a different secret. Even the plants and trees in the courtyard were designed and planted according to the Eight Trigrams Formation of Zhuge Liang. Now, at nightfall, the mechanisms were activated, and anyone who wandered around could easily become lost forever within this small mansion, until they went mad.

If there were enough time, Mo Xibei would have liked to go in and try. Whether it was a mechanism or a formation, the principle remained the same. As long as one was not misled, one would not get lost in it. However, before Mo Xibei could pinpoint the location, there was a sudden commotion in the house.

Volume 3, Chapter 28: Heartbroken

A figure leaped up from somewhere in the house and rushed straight towards the large tree where Mo Xibei was hiding.

The newcomer was still in mid-air when his palm struck down with lightning speed.

In that instant, Mo Xibei felt a strong wind rush towards her face, making her unsteady. The force of that distant palm strike was unlike anything she had ever encountered before. In just a moment, she guessed that the person who came might be the one Empress Dowager Jiang had mentioned. However, Empress Dowager Jiang had clearly belittled the other party while exaggerating herself. This person's palm strike from ten zhang away was beyond her ability to withstand. If she hadn't practiced the internal energy cultivation method within the treasure, she might not have even had a chance to dodge. This showed how strong her opponent was. Even if she and Chu Junfeng combined their strength, they would have no chance of winning.