Chapter 100: The Mysterious Man
This novel is translated and hosted only on bcatranslation.
Elder Qiu Shuang didn’t mention what everyone silently agreed upon: Shui Qing Yue had likely perished twenty years ago during that disaster. After all, she had fought recklessly to cover the retreat of the others, almost as if she had no regard for her own life. It was her self-sacrifice that allowed them to escape and later regroup to form a new sect, continuing the traditions of the the the Water Cloud Palace.
Starting this new sect was a huge risk. They had no idea if the enemies from back then would come back, but they persisted nonetheless. Now, although the the the Breeze Sect wasn’t renowned, it was thriving.
Elder Qiu Shuang sighed and shook her head, “The Sect Leader was the first to follow the Palace Mistress. She knows more than any of us.”
Unfortunately, the Sect Leader has too many prejudices against Yu Zhao to even speak with her.
Yu Zhao didn’t respond to Elder Qiu Shuang’s comment. Instead, she asked, “Did Shui Qing Yue have any close relationships with a man?”
Elder Qiu Shuang gave Yu Zhao a strange look. “Of course not. The Palace Mistress was always pure and focused, never interested in trivial matters like romance.”
Both the the the Water Cloud Palace and the the Breeze Sect only accepted female disciples. In the past, some troublemakers had even insulted the the the Water Cloud Palace, calling it a nunnery.
Yu Zhao felt a pang in her chest. She sighed deeply. It seemed that finding clues about her own background wouldn’t be easy. According to Elder Qiu Shuang, Shui Qing Yue had no relatives other than a missing brother. She never associated with men, so there was no reason for her to be pregnant. Yu Zhao’s connection to her remained a mystery. It looked like she’d have to ask Master Ziwei for more information.
As for whether Master Ziwei would be willing to meet her… Yu Zhao thought she had ways to make sure Ziwei couldn’t refuse.
“Do you know who attacked the the the Water Cloud Palace back then?” Yu Zhao asked, posing her final question.
“No idea,” Elder Qiu Shuang replied, her expression mixed with amusement and frustration. They had never seen those attackers before and didn’t know why they had targeted the the the Water Cloud Palace. The attack had come so suddenly, leaving them unprepared.
Having gathered all the information she could, Yu Zhao decided it was time to leave. Elder Qiu Shuang looked at her with a mix of sadness and reluctance. After a long pause, she softly asked, “Can I give you a hug?”
Yu Zhao tilted her head slightly and opened her arms. In the next moment, she was enveloped in the warm embrace of the elder, filled with the scent of a woman’s fragrance.
Elder Qiu Shuang’s choked voice whispered in Yu Zhao’s ear, “Thank you, Yu Zhao.”
“You’re welcome,” Yu Zhao replied with a smile. “I’m glad I could help fulfill your wish, Aunt Shuang.”
Leaving Elder Qiu Shuang’s courtyard, Yu Zhao silently made her way through the night toward Master Ziwei’s residence. Although she didn’t know any stealth techniques, her illusions served a similar purpose, allowing her to move undetected. It took her some time, but she eventually pinpointed Ziwei’s exact location.
Unexpectedly, she saw a dark figure darting out of Ziwei’s room as she arrived, leaping over the wall and heading straight for the back gate of the the Breeze Sect. Yu Zhao was startled. Could it be that someone else was sneaking into the the Breeze Sect at the same time as her?
Curious and suspicious, Yu Zhao followed without hesitation. The person moved quickly and seemed familiar with the the Breeze Sect’s layout, encountering no obstacles as he exited through the back gate, as if he owned the place. Yu Zhao trailed him at a safe distance, careful not to lose him.
As she observed, it became clear that the mysterious figure was a man, despite the the Breeze Sect’s strict rule that no men were allowed inside. His skilled movements suggested that this wasn’t his first time sneaking into the Sect Leader’s quarters. Yu Zhao’s eyes gleamed with intrigue. Was Ziwei aware of this man’s visits?
The mysterious man descended the mountain and headed towards another forested area nearby without a moment’s rest. Yu Zhao followed silently, feeling that she might uncover a significant secret.
….
This novel is translated and hosted only on bcatranslation.
Morning came, and the sky was bright. Little Red tiptoed out of her room, glancing around like a thief before rushing to the back kitchen. She retrieved a food box she had hidden among some miscellaneous items in the corner and, making sure no one was watching, slipped out of the small door of Fragrant Tea House.
Walking home, Little Red’s eyes sparkled with joy, and her smile revealed a set of white teeth. Grandpa Cha had ordered her to stay put in the teahouse and not wander off, and he’d found someone to look after her brothers. But Little Red couldn’t rest easy. Without her there, her brothers wouldn’t be comfortable.
She just wanted to take a quick look and drop off the food for her brothers, then she’d return. Grandpa Cha wouldn’t find out.
Little Red lived in the southern quarter of South Sea City, the dirtiest and most chaotic part of town. She navigated the narrow alleys expertly, avoiding debris and wary neighbors, drawing no attention as she reached her home. Though calling it “home” was generous—it was really just a rundown shack that barely sheltered them from the elements, often letting rain in.
Still, Little Red was content. Things were tough now, but she was determined to find a better way to earn spirit stones. She was sure their lives would improve. Maybe one day, her brothers would become as powerful as the seniors who trained them.
“Little Wool, Little Bean, Little West, your sister is back! Look what I brought you!” Little Red called out, holding the food box as she entered the room. The room was empty, and there was no reply from her brothers.
Puzzled, Little Red wondered where they were. Just then, her three younger brothers rushed in from a side room, their faces bright with excitement. “Sir, she’s back! This is Little Red!”
Little Red’s smile froze. She didn’t know what was happening, but her instincts screamed at her to run. She turned and tried to bolt, but before she could take two steps, an invisible force wrapped around her legs. She kept running in place, her upper body still moving forward until she crashed to the ground. The food box she had been holding tumbled out of her grasp.
Her head throbbed with pain, and when she touched it, her hand came away bloody.
“Sis, why are you running? The sir just wants to talk to you!”
“Little Red, just tell the sir where you’ve been these days! He’ll reward us with a middle-grade spirit stone!”
“Ugh, so clumsy, you’re useless!”
Her three brothers gathered around, chattering excitedly. None of them noticed the blood flowing freely from Little Red’s forehead.