Chapter 122
Chapter 122: The Orphaned Wild Child
While Chu Zhi Rou cursed and threatened the guards, Ye He Qi and Shi Zi Chu emerged from within.
The once proud and domineering expression on her face softened, transforming into something gentle and obedient. Chu Zhi Rou, filled with urgency, spoke first, “Big Brother!”
In her worry for her mother, Chu Zhi Rou completely ignored Shi Zi Chu, who stood nearby.
Ye He Qi sighed, a deep sorrow spreading across his features. “Zhi Rou, please accept my condolences.”
The sadness in his voice left Chu Zhi Rou stunned. She stood frozen for a moment, struggling to grasp the words. “Wh-what?”
“Big Brother, what does this mean?”
Had Ye He Qi not been so dignified, and had she not feared to offend him, Chu Zhi Rou would have likely rushed forward, grabbing his sleeve.
“Your mother’s gu master betrayed her and placed a Heart Eater Gu on her,” Ye He Qi said, his voice trembling with sorrow, a rare sadness tainting his usually gentle tone. “She… has passed.”
Shi Zi Chu, standing nearby, muttered with a smirk, “Well played.”
“No!” Chu Zhi Rou screamed, her voice frenzied, as she tried to force her way forward. “I don’t believe it! I want to see my mother! Mother!!”
Without Ye He Qi’s command, the guards didn’t allow her inside.
Shi Zi Chu patted Ye He Qi’s back, her tone soft, “Don’t be too upset, everyone has their fate.”
Ye He Qi looked up, his peach blossom eyes shimmering with unshed tears. His face, filled with sorrow, was like a fragile porcelain doll—broken, pitiful.
Shi Zi Chu tried to suppress the upward curve of her lips, her voice tender yet filled with concern. “Let’s go. There’s still much to handle tomorrow.”
Ye He Qi nodded.
As they passed the guards and were about to leave, Chu Zhi Rou suddenly reached out, grabbing Shi Zi Chu’s arm.
With eyes bloodshot, she glared at Shi Zi Chu. “Second Senior Sister, Mother… she really isn’t…”
“Junior Sister Zhi Rou,” Shi Zi Chu cut in gently.
She sighed, her voice soft, filled with understanding. “I was once married to Clan Chief Ye. I came only to offer my condolences.”
Ye He Qi nearly lost control of his sorrowful expression.
That insufferable woman!
With a quick flick, Shi Zi Chu slipped her arm through Ye He Qi’s, her movements smooth and practiced. “Junior Sister Zhi Rou, we’ll be leaving now.”
Chu Zhi Rou stared, disbelief in her eyes, as Shi Zi Chu, arm in arm with Ye He Qi, walked away and eventually disappeared from view.
The two soon found themselves in an isolated area.
“That should be enough, right? Let go.”
Ye He Qi’s voice was a soft reminder.
Shi Zi Chu glanced at him, concern in her eyes. “I’m just worried that my husband is heartbroken. Here, let me support you.”
“…”
Ye He Qi yanked his arm away and turned to walk off. “Such a nuisance!”
Shi Zi Chu couldn’t help but laugh, her bright laughter echoing through the air.
The next day.
The Ye Clan was draped in white silk.
Lin Qing Yu arrived quietly and left just as silently.
Pei Luo Xiu, after a walk outside, returned to find Shi Zi Chu in the midst of body tempering.
When she finished, Pei Luo Xiu quickly approached. “Big Sister Shi, Old Madam Ye has passed.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded. “Since we are residing in the Ye Clan, it’s only right that we pay our respects.”
Pei Luo Xiu thought for a moment, then agreed.
After changing into plain white robes, the two women made their way to the mourning hall.
Inside, the hall buzzed with people coming and going, paying their respects in an endless stream.
Ye He Qi, dressed in mourning robes, stood outside, speaking with guests.
Shi Zi Chu and Pei Luo Xiu approached. “My condolences,” she said.
Ye He Qi gave a slight nod.
After a few words, the two of them moved to offer their respects.
Chu Zhi Rou, also in mourning robes, was kneeling before the coffin. Her eyes were swollen and red, her gaze empty and vacant.
Shi Zi Chu offered incense and then crouched down before Chu Zhi Rou, speaking softly, “Junior Sister Zhi Rou, please accept my condolences.”
Chu Zhi Rou, like a soulless puppet, stared at the memorial tablet.
The next moment, Shi Zi Chu leaned in and whispered in a tone that only the two of them could hear, “Junior Sister Zhi Rou, now you are truly an orphaned wild child…”
Pei Luo Xiu’s gaze flickered, but she acted as if she hadn’t heard.
The cruel words were like a spark that ignited Chu Zhi Rou’s fury. Her face twisted with rage.
“Shi Zi Chu, you vile woman!!!”
With a sudden shout, Chu Zhi Rou summoned a burst of spiritual power toward Shi Zi Chu.
“Ah!”
Caught off guard, Shi Zi Chu was knocked to the ground, landing in an awkward heap.
Guests who had been entering the hall jumped back in surprise, only to see Chu Zhi Rou, eyes bloodshot, summoning her life-bound sword to strike at Shi Zi Chu.
Pei Luo Xiu quickly drew her sword and blocked the strike. “Chu Zhi Rou, have you lost your mind?! Big Sister Shi was only trying to comfort you, why are you attacking her?”
The sword qi caused chaos in the hall, scattering the crowd in all directions.
Ye He Qi hurriedly entered, his voice cold. “What is going on here?”
“It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have come to mourn Old Madam,” Shi Zi Chu said in a low voice, full of self-reproach.
Her tone drew the eyes of many.
Guests noticed the scratches on her porcelain-white face, her appearance far from perfect.
Ye He Qi stepped forward and helped her up, his gaze turning toward Chu Zhi Rou with a hint of helplessness. “Zhi Rou, Daoist Shi came only to mourn your mother. No matter how upset you are, you cannot take your anger out on her.”
Shi Zi Chu shook her head. “We are fellow disciples. Zhi Rou has lost her mother; I do not blame her.”
The reproach in Ye He Qi’s voice and the disapproving stares from the guests stung Chu Zhi Rou deeply.
Finally regaining some semblance of reason, she pointed her spirit sword at Shi Zi Chu. “It’s you! You called me an orphaned wild child!”
Shi Zi Chu’s eyes widened in shock. “Junior Sister Zhi Rou, you…”
Her shocked and sorrowful expression was so convincingly portrayed that it nearly brought tears to one’s eyes.
“Shi Zi Chu, you poisonous woman!”
Chu Zhi Sheng, arriving from outside, strode in and stood behind Chu Zhi Rou, glaring at Shi Zi Chu with fiery eyes. “How dare you insult Rou Rou at a time like this!”
Shi Zi Chu lowered her head, sorrowfully, “I have lost my parents too, how could I bear to hurt her? I only wanted to comfort Junior Sister Zhi Rou…”
“Enough!” Chu Zhi Sheng shouted angrily. “I don’t want to hear your flowery words! Get out!”
Seeing the commotion stirred by Chu Zhi Sheng, Ye He Qi’s calm and dignified voice rang out, “Clan Chief Chu, is this not the Chu Clan?”
His casual remark made Chu Zhi Sheng fall silent immediately.
“Zhi Rou, you are no longer a child,” Ye He Qi sighed. “With so many people present, do you think they cannot hear Daoist Shi’s words?”
“Even Eldest Miss Ye is too heartbroken.”
“Daoist Shi is truly innocent.”
Shi Zi Chu spoke with grace, “I do not blame Junior Sister Zhi Rou. She is simply overwhelmed with grief, and I understand.”
Did she think this was the perfect opportunity to show off in front of Xing Lan?
Did she hope to become a personal disciple again?
Honestly, she should have asked her opinion first!
Feeling utterly isolated, Chu Zhi Rou staggered backward, tears streaming down her face. “Big Brother, do you not believe me either?”
Ye He Qi looked at her with a mixture of helplessness and weariness before finally saying, “Take the young miss to rest.”
The matters of the Ye Clan were beyond Chu Zhi Sheng’s control.
He could only watch helplessly as Chu Zhi Rou was led away by a maid.
“I’ll take Daoist Shi to tend to her wounds,” Ye He Qi said with concern.
Shi Zi Chu shook her head. “The deceased should be the priority. These small wounds are nothing.”
Ye He Qi had no choice but to let Shi Zi Chu ‘sorrowfully’ leave.