Love & Redemption
Chapter 100: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji - 7 Change (7)

Chapter 100: Volume 3 Heartless Xuanji Chapter 7 Change (7)

The first installment.

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Zhong Minyan, male, eighteen years old this year, is the youngest male disciple of the Min Generation in the Shaoyang Sect.

Basically, Zhong Minyan is a quite easygoing person. He is used to being the junior apprentice brother and is accustomed to cheerfully agreeing to the orders of his senior apprentice brothers. Few would know how stubborn his nature truly is. Most of the time, his judgment of a person is governed by his own thoughts, and once his mind is set, he never looks back.

In his heart, as long as he can find his master, that would pretty much guarantee that all was well. His master was the most clear-cut, fair, and upright person in the world.

But reality often leads to disappointment.

After he found his master and recounted what had happened to Brother Ouyang, Chu Lei merely frowned lightly, without even lifting his gaze from the scroll in his hands, "Valley Master Rong has his own sense of measure, you don’t need to worry. If he is innocent, after questioning him and finding no suspicion, he will naturally ensure his safe return home."

Uh... that’s not right. Zhong Minyan was stunned. Shouldn’t the master have nodded in agreement and then gone to plead with Valley Master Rong right away?

He tried to persuade, "Master, Brother Ouyang is a good person. Ruo Yu and I were seriously injured, and thanks to him, who toiled every day in front of our beds to prepare medicine and take care of us. Without him, I would not know where to this day I might have died from my injuries. He is my lifesaver, I cannot..."

"Min Yan." Chu Lei finally shifted his gaze from the scroll, looking at him reproachfully, "You are naive about the ways of the world, how can you easily judge whether this person is good or bad? Even if we entertain the possibility that he had premeditated plans, lying in wait for you at Gao Mountain, and then infiltrated Fuyu Island... it is not impossible."

He’s not a three-year-old child! Can he not discern whether a person is good, evil, or harbours ulterior motives?

Yet, years of habit caused him to close his mouth obediently and choose silence.

Seeing that he still looked unconvinced, Chu Lei continued, "We will leave Fuyu Island in two days. Behave yourself, and don’t cause trouble!"

Zhong Minyan left sullenly. After coming out, he felt that many things had changed, what he originally thought was one way often turned out to be surprising. As a child, he always looked forward to growing up quickly, to see the world outside and become a stalwart man. Only now did he understand why many adults always envied the carefree nature of children.

Actually, the world is still the same world, but the perspective has changed. The cunning and skeptical hearts of people have made this world extremely complex. So-called growth is gradually learning to protect oneself with the same guarded heart, and after a long time, even forgetting what the real self looks like.

Returning to his guest room, he flopped onto the bed to sleep off his weariness, his mind in a messy jumble. One moment he remembered Brother Ouyang’s care along the way, the next, the conspiracies his master spoke of.

When he was very young, his parents died in an epidemic, and his only elder brother also starved to death on the road while fleeing their hometown, taking care of him as a young child. Later, he was fortunately saved by his master, who brought him back to Shaoyang Peak. No longer did he need to worry about food and shelter, and with many same-age apprentice brothers around, he did not feel lonely. However, in the dead of night, he would remember that in this world, he was alone, without family, without anyone who would love and care for him sincerely. Although his master and mistress were kind, there was always a layer of reverence between them, and despite the affectionate apprentice brothers and sisters, there was always a competitive spirit. He came alone and, in the end, would leave alone; at this thought, he often felt a profound loneliness.

Although later he found good friends like Si Feng and Ruo Yu, the feeling towards a brother was different. When he was seriously injured on Gao Mountain, completely immobilized, Brother Ouyang appeared. He took meticulous care of him and Ruo Yu, encouraging and comforting them every day—that feeling was both familiar and strange. One day, he finally realized, this was probably what brotherhood was about. Although Ouyang wasn’t his biological elder brother, in his memory, this was what an elder brother was supposed to be like.

Now everything had suddenly turned upside down, people were saying his elder brother was a bad person, detaining and interrogating him. Considering his frail health, he feared that a few blows would be enough to kill him.

How could this be! How could this be! Zhong Minyan thought about it until he got upset, hammering the bed with his fist, causing the bed to thump loudly.

Ruo Yu happened to come in through the door and saw him lying on the bed in broad daylight taking his frustrations out on the blanket, he, being so astute, already knew what it was about and heaved a soft sigh before walking over and saying, "Min Yan, we juniors are not in a position to meddle in these matters. Don’t fret over it, if Brother Ouyang isn’t a spy, I believe Valley Master Rong will certainly release him."

"Hmph, when one wants to condemn someone, one will never lack excuses!" Zhong Minyan leapt from the bed, "Now everyone, because of that Manager Ouyang incident, absolutely despises Brother Ouyang to the bone. Release him? I think they just want to vent their anger on him and make him a scapegoat!"

At first, it was just an outburst of anger, but on second thought, he realized there might indeed be such a possibility. Manager Ouyang was a demon and had hidden in Fuyu Island for ten years without being discovered; Brother Ouyang was his elder brother—naturally, the elder brother of a demon would also be a demon. Valley Master Rong might show mercy to a human, but towards a demon, he was absolutely ruthless!

"Ruo Yu!" he suddenly called out.

Ruo Yu looked at him and said, "What are you going to do? Go rescue them?"

Zhong Minyan bit his lower lip tightly, he didn’t know what to do, but the thought of sitting by while Brother Ouyang was tortured to death was utterly unbearable.

Ruo Yu blinked and said softly, "I just saw Fuyu Island disciples delivering food to the dungeon. They should deliver it again tonight..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but Zhong Minyan had already grasped his meaning. After pondering for a while, he finally stood up and said, "Good! We’ll go tonight! Even if Master blames me, I don’t care anymore!"

Ruo Yu smiled and said, "Why would your master blame you? It’s a virtue to help others righteously. He will understand eventually."

Zhong Minyan made up his mind to rescue them that night, and his gloomy mood instantly dissipated. He was so anxious that he scratched his head and paced around, wishing he could blow the sun down the mountain and hurriedly rescue the people.

"I’ll go find Si Feng! The three of us together..." He turned to leave, but was grabbed by Ruo Yu, "Wait, having more people might actually be a disadvantage. Besides, Si Feng is currently under the Vice Palace Master’s suspicion because of the mask incident. It’s not suitable for him to make any more mistakes at this time. Just the two of us will be enough."

"What about the mask?" Zhong Minyan was stunned for a moment, suddenly remembering that Yu Sifeng’s mask was indeed missing when they met again. The Vice Palace Master must be annoyed with him because of this, he immediately laughed and said, "I thought it was something serious! In an emergency, who cares about a mask! It’s not something serious, is it? Last time the Palace Master didn’t punish him either."

Ruo Yu smiled, "That’s because he exchanged it for the punishment of never returning to his homeland..."

"What?" Zhong Minyan didn’t hear clearly, but Ruo Yu shook his head, "Nothing. Let’s go check out the terrain around the dungeon first and see how we can move tonight."

When it came time for dinner that night, both Zhong Minyan and Ruo Yu were absent because of their "painful wounds."

"Could it be that their wounds burst open?" Xuanji asked with some concern as she served the food.

Yu Sifeng, pondering, smiled and said, "I imagine the burst must be quite severe. I’ll bring them food later and check on their injuries."

"I also..."

"Xuanji, don’t follow," he laughed with a teasing tone, "It’s an injury that requires undressing to examine, it’s inconvenient for a girl to go."

Is that so? But his smile looked very insincere. Xuanji looked at him steadily, her understanding unclear.

Yu Sifeng knew that she had always been insightful, just not quite worldly-wise, not seeing the trust Zhong Minyan had in Brother Ouyang. Thus, she racked her brains to no avail. Watching her troubled face, her eyelashes trembling like the wings of butterflies, he couldn’t help but smile even more deeply.

"I have some medicinal bandages there. Si Feng, take them with you later," Chu Lei, who had been silent, finally spoke, startling Yu Sifeng. He glanced at the Sect Leader of Shaoyang Sect, who was usually stern and serious, and suddenly understood; one could not easily hide anything from him. With Chu Lei making such a remark, it indicated that he condoned Zhong Minyan’s reckless actions. Yu Sifeng relaxed and respected him even more.

After the meal, Chu Lei indeed took out the bandages and medicinal supplies and had Yu Sifeng bring them along, then he said, "Min Yan is restless by nature, fond of getting into trouble. During this trip down the mountain, Si Feng, you’ll have to keep an extra eye on him."

Yu Sifeng, treated with such warmth and kindness by Chu Lei for the first time, was pleasantly surprised and somewhat puzzled as to why he held such regard for an ordinary disciple from Lize Palace. Looking up to gauge his expression, he saw Chu Lei’s eyes gentle, with an implicit look of approval.

"Xuanji... I also ask for your care," he said.

Yu Sifeng’s face suddenly flushed, and he got it. Just as he wanted to explain, it seemed trivial to do so, and politeness would appear affected. Realizing his secret had been easily seen through, he felt a bit flustered, but at the same time, the endorsement from an elder made him happy, and for a moment, he was utterly speechless.

The usually cunning, calm, and composed Yu Sifeng also had his moments of embarrassment. Chu Lei patted him on the shoulder, admiring the young man. He was about to strike up a longer conversation when suddenly there was a commotion outside. Xuanji pounded the door forcefully and called out, "Father! Si Feng! Someone has come to Fuyu Island again!"

Both of them were shocked. (To be continued. For more details, please visit www.qidian.com. More Chapters are available, and your support for the author and genuine reading is appreciated!)