Une jeunesse errante

Chapitre 134

“Yes, Father.” Lu Qingcheng said patiently, “Jianyue has been advising me to let go of the resentment in my heart and hoping that I can live happily. This is the real purpose for Father to send Jianyue here. Father does not want to take revenge on Mother, nor does he want to take revenge on anyone.”

Madam Lu glared at Qing Jianyue with eyes as cold as ice, making Qing Jianyue's heart tremble and her back break out in a cold sweat.

Lu Qingcheng continued to patiently persuade her, "Mother, Father is dead. No matter how much you hate him, he won't know. Hating someone is like loving someone painfully. Mother, is it worth it for you to hate Father so painfully? He's dead. No matter how much hatred and anger you harbor in your heart, he won't know. Please let go of your resentment, Mother."

"Shut up, shut up!" Madam Lu pounded the bed in a fit of rage. "Cai Bo'an? Is Cai Bo'an outside? Cai Zhonghe, Su Haibo, Zhou Peng, Lei Yongxiang?"

Footsteps sounded, and Cai Bo'an and his entourage surged in like a tide. After entering, they bowed to Madam Lu.

Madam Lu said loudly, "Cai Bo'an, you are knowledgeable and experienced, you should know who Zhao Feihu is, right?"

Lu Qingcheng was taken aback, his mind filled with doubt. He looked at Cai Bo'an, who looked blank, clearly not understanding why Madam Lu had suddenly mentioned such a person.

Madam Lu roared, "Why aren't you speaking? Or do you not know that there was once a famous figure in the martial arts world, Zhao Feihu, the White Tiger Star? Which of you knows him? Cai Zhonghe, you speak! You manage the intelligence network of this fortress that spans the entire country, you should know, right?"

Cai Zhonghe replied, "Yes, I understand."

"Very good." Madam Lu nodded in satisfaction and said, "You tell us what you think."

Cai Zhonghe remained silent, instead looking at Qing Jianyue with deep concern. Only then did Lu Qingcheng notice that Qing Jianyue's expression had changed, becoming extremely frightening—not because of terror, but because of pain.

His pained expression was as if a knife were slowly slicing him apart. No blood was visible, yet his flesh was a bloody mess; there were no pitiful cries, yet they seemed to be heard. Everything was silent, and it was precisely this silence that made the pain feel so heavy, so suffocating; it was precisely this silence that intensified the suffering, a despair akin to being ill and about to die.

Chapter Fifty: A Tragic Background (Part 2)

Seeing this, Madam Lu let out a mocking sneer, as if urging someone to give up, "Cai Zhonghe, why don't you speak? Tell me in detail what you know."

"Yes." Cai Zhonghe bowed somewhat helplessly, and said in his naturally beautiful and magnetic voice, with its intonation, "Zhao Feihu is from Shaanxi. At the age of fifteen, he became famous in the martial arts world for his pair of double swords. He once served in the imperial court, guarding the border and making great contributions, for which he was highly commended by the court. Because of his bravery and ferocity in battle, and because he was born in the Year of the Tiger, he was known as the White Tiger Star. At the age of twenty-five, he was appointed as a deputy general. However, he was upright and chivalrous, and did not know how to be tactful in his dealings with others. Soon after, he offended his superiors and was dismissed from his post. After being dismissed, on his way back to his hometown, he saved two people out of a moment of chivalry. These two people were the key figures who changed his fate."

At this moment, Qingfeng arrived. The attendant was about to report, but Qingfeng stopped him.

"The first is Zhao Feihu's wife, Lady Liu. Lady Liu's father once served as the Imperial Censor in the court. He was dismissed from his post for submitting a memorial impeaching powerful officials and died of illness on his way back to his hometown. Lady Liu was in such a difficult and helpless situation when she received help from Zhao Feihu. In order to repay the life-saving grace, Lady Liu married Zhao Feihu. The second is Luo Buqun, who serves Li Ying, the young master of the Tianying Sect."

Lu Qingcheng straightened up, gazing intently at Cai Zhonghe. Lei Yongxiang, Li Anguo, Liu Xicheng, He Zhiqiang, Su Haibo, Zhou Peng, Steward Du, Zhou Jie, and Du Ping also watched him with focused expressions.

"Luo Buqun was a handsome and refined man, possessing both talent and wisdom. Zhao Feihu took an instant liking to him and they became sworn brothers. After returning home, Zhao Feihu followed Luo Buqun's advice and started a business. He bought large tracts of land, built ranches and manors, and imported horses from the Western Regions. With Luo Buqun's help, he became one of the wealthiest men in Shaanxi in just a few years. Because of his chivalrous and righteous nature, many people in the martial arts world flocked to him, making his Xingyue Manor very famous in the martial arts world."

“Star Moon Manor?” Lu Qingcheng asked, “Isn’t Zhao Wuyang the owner of Star Moon Manor?”

“Yes,” Cai Zhonghe said. “Zhao Wuyang is a distant cousin of Zhao Feihu. Because his family fell into ruin, he was taken in by Zhao Feihu. Among the people who came to Xingyue Manor at that time, there was another very important figure, namely Li Tieying, the leader of the Tianying Sect.”

Lu Qingcheng calmly asked, "What's next?"

Cai Zhonghe said, "The good times didn't last long. Zhao Feihu's glory lasted less than ten years. The famous Xingyue Manor in Shaanxi was robbed by bandits. Overnight, Xingyue Manor was filled with blood. Zhao Feihu was also killed in that battle."

He Zhiqiang, Zhou Peng, Chief Steward Du, Zhou Jie, and Du Ping all showed expressions of shock.

Liu Xicheng blurted out, "Who did this?"

Lu Qingcheng, Lei Yongxiang, Li Anguo, and Su Haibo remained calm and composed, clearly having already guessed the outcome.

"According to the investigation, the ones who impersonated bandits and massacred Xingyue Manor were none other than Li Tieying, Luo Buqun, and Zhao Wuyang," Cai Zhonghe said, emphasizing each word.

This time, those present sensed something, but they still didn't understand what this had to do with Kiyomi Tsuki.

Liu Xicheng roared in fury, "What a bunch of heartless bastards!"

"When Li Tieying joined Xingyue Manor, he was just a small-time hoodlum in the martial arts world, but he was a cunning and ambitious man. After joining Xingyue Manor, he ingratiated himself with Zhao Feihu, quickly gaining his trust and wielding considerable power. However, no matter how much he pretended, a villain is still a villain. Due to embezzling public funds and his fondness for women, he caused many troubles and was expelled from the manor by Zhao Feihu. Speaking of this, we must mention Zhao Feihu's wife, Liu. Liu came from a scholarly family and was exceptionally beautiful. If her father hadn't been dismissed from his post, she would have been destined to become a concubine in the palace. But unfortunately..." Fate played a cruel joke, leading Zhao Feihu to rescue a damsel in distress. To repay his life-saving grace and also to find a place to belong, the beauty had no choice but to marry Zhao Feihu. However, in Liu's heart, how could a mere warrior like Zhao Feihu be worthy of her? In contrast, Luo Buqun was different; handsome and dashing, winning Liu's favor was a piece of cake. As time passed, the two began an affair. Their affair was quickly discovered by Zhao Feihu. To save his own life, Luo Buqun conspired with Li Tieying and also recruited the greedy Zhao Wuyang. Together, they plundered Xingyue Manor in one night.

Cai Zhonghe stopped, his gaze fixed on Qing Jianyue, unable to look away.

Qing Jianyue's appearance was becoming increasingly worrying. Lu Qingcheng, filled with concern, grasped his cold hand and softly called out, "Jianyue?"

However, Kiyomi Tsuki showed no reaction. He seemed to have lost his ears, unable to hear; he seemed to have lost his senses, unable to know. His eyes were empty, as if he were looking at Lu Qingcheng, or as if he wasn't looking at anything at all.

Madam Lu asked, "Why don't you continue?"

Cai Zhonghe's gaze was fixed on Qing Jianyue, and like Lu Qingcheng, his heart was pounding in the pan. Madam Cai shook her head and sighed.

Cai Bo'an immediately continued, "After Zhao Feihu died, two-thirds of his property was seized by Li Tieying, which became the capital for him to establish the Tianying Sect; Luo Buqun received Zhao Feihu's widow, Liu Shi; and Zhao Wuyang inherited Xingyue Manor."

Madam Lu sneered, "Doesn't Zhao Feihu have any children?"

“Yes. Zhao Feihu has no sons, only two daughters. His eldest daughter, Zhao Yue, disappeared after that incident, and no one knows, no one knows…” Cai Bo’an suddenly stopped speaking, looking at Qing Jian Yue with a puzzled expression.

Suspicious gazes were fixed on Kiyomi Tsuki, unable to look away, as if a heavy stone weighed on everyone's heart. Could it be? Could it be? No, this is too cruel! Too cruel!

Lu Qingcheng subconsciously tightened her grip on Qing Jianyue's hand, her heart pounding wildly.

"Kiyoshi, what are your thoughts after hearing this story?" Madam Lu's confident and resolute voice struck everyone's hearts like a hammer blow.

A faint, ethereal smile appeared on Qingjian Yue's face. "Madam, you are truly amazing. No matter how many magic weapons Sun Wukong has, he can't escape your Buddha's palm."

It resonated in everyone's heart like a thunderclap.

Lu Qingcheng suddenly tightened her grip on Qing Jianyue's hand. Qing Jianyue frowned in pain but said nothing.

As if she had defeated her most hated enemy, Madam Lu said in an indescribably triumphant tone, "So, you admit it. You admit that you are Zhao Feihu's missing eldest daughter, Zhao Yue? That's right, you are Zhao Yue."

Lu Qingcheng felt as if a cold knife had slashed her heart, and blood was flowing out like tears.

"Zhao Yue is long dead."

Kiyomi Tsuki smiled faintly, a smile that made his face seem as if veiled in mist, an invisible barrier that sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

“The moment I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary person. Anyone would be afraid of me; no one would dare to disrespect me. But you are different; you show no fear. How could I not take notice?” Madam Lu’s face grew brighter as she spoke, and even her voice became more forceful. “Xu Lan, you speak.”