X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the ServerFang Yue gazed at the young man before her. Though his surroundings were a mess, his eyes held an unwavering resolve.
She nodded, a slight smile gracing her lips.
“You are truly remarkable,” she praised.
Neither Fang Yue nor Zhang Xiaoyou intended to question how Yue Feng had acquired such pure primal energy. Everyone harbored their own secrets, and besides, Yue Feng shared a rather ambiguous relationship with Fang Yue’s prospective disciple.
Upon hearing Fang Yue’s affirmation, Yue Feng offered a weak smile to Wang Yu and Yue Cai. He gave a thumbs-up in a gesture of victory, then promptly collapsed.
Yue Cai rushed forward to support Yue Feng, and Wang Yu, instinctively, also ran to help Yue Cai steady him.
“Take him to the guest room to rest. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. With his constitution, he’ll awaken shortly,” Zhang Xiaoyou assured them, then dispatched someone to arrange the room.
Once the room was prepared, Wang Yu, Yue Cai, Fang Yue, and Zhang Xiaoyou gathered inside. Xiaoke, meanwhile, was still spiraling upward into the sky.
Noticing Yue Cai’s distracted demeanor, clearly preoccupied with Yue Feng, Fang Yue shook her head with a sigh. “Very well, go and look after him if you wish. Since you’ve acknowledged me as your master, you’ll return to Hundred Flowers Valley with me eventually. I won’t permit you to leave the valley until you’ve achieved significant progress in your studies. For now, go spend some quality time with your sweetheart.”
Yue Cai was overjoyed. She bowed deeply to Fang Yue and Zhang Xiaoyou, then offered a quick greeting to Wang Yu before hurrying to Yue Feng’s room.
Zhang Xiaoyou observed Wang Yu, who had remained silent. “Aren’t you going?” he inquired.
Wang Yu shook her head. “Cai’er is perfectly capable of handling everything on her own. My presence would only mean standing by and watching. Besides, I’m not sure how I feel about him right now.”
Zhang Xiaoyou and Fang Yue did not press the matter. They had no desire to interfere too much in the affairs of the younger generation. They both recognized Yue Feng as an excellent individual, and Wang Yu was not the type of delicate or tsundere young lady. Each had their own thoughts.
Fang Yue appeared to have a question for Wang Yu, but after a moment of consideration, she decided against asking. Just then, a disciple entered and bowed to Zhang Xiaoyou. “Grand Elder, the execution time for the prisoner Situ Yan (Second Son) in Furnace City’s central square is approaching. The Situ family head has invited a stationed elder to bear witness.”
“I understand,” Zhang Xiaoyou replied calmly.
“Situ Yan (Second Son)?” Wang Yu asked, a hint of confusion in her voice. “He’s the Situ family’s second young master, isn’t he? What happened that his own father would want him executed?”
Zhang Xiaoyou responded gravely, “He committed unforgivable acts with some lawless individuals at the wrong place and the wrong time.”
Zhang Xiaoyou then asked Wang Yu, “Do you wish to observe?”
“Yes,” Wang Yu nodded. Although the second young master had dared to flirt with them before, Situ Yan and their relationship remained quite good.
“Then let’s go. I’ll take you to the sky corridor above the plaza,” Zhang Xiaoyou said, rising to his feet. “I’ll tell you what exactly happened on the way.”
Fang Yue walked over to Xiaoke, who could no longer even let out a scream, and abruptly pulled them from their erratic flight path, tossing them to Wang Yu.
Xiaoke’s eyes were filled with swirling circles; they could barely stand, let alone fly. Wang Yu could only place them on her shoulder and followed Zhang Xiaoyou out.
****
In the center of Furnace City’s main plaza, Situ Yan (Second Son), clad in a prisoner’s uniform, knelt on the ground, shouting incessantly. However, his cries were utterly drowned out by the curses of the traumatized Furnace City residents who had witnessed the calamity, and the cultivators who had returned and learned the truth.
Those cultivators were gripped by a wave of lingering fear. Though they had received substantial compensation upon their return, realizing they had nearly lost their lives ignited a fury and panic that no amount of recompense could extinguish.
The local residents of Furnace City were even more direct victims. Their homes and businesses had been destroyed, or they themselves and their loved ones had suffered injuries.
From the outset, the ordinary cultivators and residents bore the brunt of Furnace City’s disaster. Compared to their losses, the Holy Lands had not sustained significant attacks; they even felt they had profited slightly by capturing an Apostle.
This collective rage dared not be directed at the Holy Lands, so the Situ family naturally became the primary target. Despite the Situ family’s extensive efforts in handling the aftermath, their public perception paled in comparison to the Holy Land’s rescue disciples.
They clamored for the Situ family to provide an explanation. Four hundred years of the Situ family’s stability and prosperity in Furnace City had been wiped out in an instant. Situ Yan (Second Son) was pushed forward by the Situ family as a scapegoat for the public’s wrath. As for the true culprits, the Devouring Serpent, no one dared to mention them; they were entities only Holy Land-level powers would dare to confront.
From the sky corridor, Wang Yu looked down, following Zhang Xiaoyou, and felt a pang of sorrow for the Situ family. Centuries of meticulous management had been ruined by a single wastrel. The Situ family had, from this point forward, lost the protection of public support before the Holy Lands, and their future prospects would be far more perilous.
“I will go down to attend the execution. You may observe from here,” Zhang Xiaoyou instructed Wang Yu, then turned to Fang Yue. “And what about you, Elder Fang?”
As a former Valley Master, Fang Yue’s status was naturally exalted. Presiding over such an event was well within her capabilities, entirely dependent on her personal discretion.
“I have no interest in this. I’ll contact Hundred Flowers Valley first. After all, taking on a disciple is a significant matter for Hundred Flowers Valley, and it must be reported,” Fang Yue stated.
Of course, it was merely a notification; no one in Hundred Flowers Valley would dare to question her decisions.
Zhang Xiaoyou nodded, then addressed Wang Yu. “Originally, the same would apply to you, but since you currently do not wish to return to Heavenly Palace Academy, this matter will be postponed. When you arrive at Heavenly Palace Academy, I will arrange for your master-disciple ceremony.”
Zhang Xiaoyou’s standing within Heavenly Palace Academy was no less than Fang Yue’s within Hundred Flowers Valley. Essentially, once he decided, Heavenly Palace Academy could only cooperate fully.
However, neither of them frequently exercised such authority, as they were no longer the Head or Valley Master.
After the two left, Wang Yu glanced around, quickly spotting Situ Yan and Situ Yi standing on the other side. There were few people here; being able to ascend to this vantage point implied a certain status and position. Holy Land disciples, with the exception of a select few who knew the full story, would only focus their attention on the Devouring Serpent. They had no interest in a mere scapegoat.
Wang Yu hesitated for a moment, then walked over.
Situ Yan and Situ Yi had noticed Wang Yu from the start, but Situ Yi grabbed Situ Yan, who had intended to approach her, when he saw the person beside her.
“Third Brother, is that woman your friend from your adventures?” Situ Yi asked.
“Yes, why?” Situ Yan had never met Zhang Xiaoyou, let alone Fang Yue.
“Do you know who that elder beside her is?” Situ Yi swallowed hard. “That’s our Heavenly Palace Academy’s Grand Elder, whose status is so high that even our Head defers to them. What is her relationship with Elder Zhang?”
Situ Yan was stunned. He had no idea either. It was akin to making a travel buddy on a trip, only to discover later that their father was the CEO of some major company. This wasn’t a pleasant surprise; it was a shock.
However, they didn’t need to guess, as Wang Yu was already walking towards them.
Situ Yan stopped pondering such matters and went to meet her. “Miss Wang, we meet again. Where is Brother Yue?”
Wang Yu considered for a moment before replying, “He… he experienced a supreme bliss and fainted from it.”
“????” What did that mean? Situ Yan froze, deciding not to delve deeper.
Situ Yi asked, “Miss Wang, were you just speaking with Elder Zhang?”
“Yes,” Wang Yu replied without concealment. “He was the one who brought me up here.”
“What is your relationship with him?” Situ Yi asked with intense curiosity.
Wang Yu calmly stated, “You could say I’m an apprentice who hasn’t formally acknowledged him as a master yet.”
Situ Yan and Situ Yi’s eyes widened. They had never heard of this.
“When did this happen?” Situ Yan inquired.
Wang Yu, with a straight face, explained, “It was around the time we first arrived in Furnace City. He disguised himself as a beggar, saw my clear bones and extraordinary demeanor, and recognized me as a martial arts prodigy rarely seen in a century. So, he specifically took me as his disciple.”
‘Situ Yan and Situ Yi, we don’t believe a word of your nonsense,’ they thought.
Wang Yu chuckled. “Pfft, alright, alright, I’m not teasing you anymore. Seeing your solemn faces earlier, I wanted to lighten the mood. As for the apprenticeship, just consider me a distant relative of his. The specific reasons cannot be disclosed.”
Situ Yan and Situ Yi nodded. If it was someone else’s secret, it was best not to inquire further.
Wang Yu looked towards the center of the plaza. “I’ve heard what happened. Although he was a scoundrel, he is still your kin. Please accept my condolences.”
Situ Yan, with his hands behind his back, also looked in that direction. Zhang Xiaoyou and the others had taken their seats, awaiting the appointed time for Situ Yan, the family head, to announce the execution. His father sat there, his face stern and immensely solemn, preparing to pronounce the death sentence upon his own son.
Situ Yan shook his head. “This is his just deserts; no one else is to blame. We once anticipated he might commit a grave error, so we kept him under strict supervision. It seems we were naive.”
Wang Yu watched the clock on the plaza slowly tick. “But it must still be painful, for all of you, especially your father.”
Situ Yan remained silent.
“We are friends, but I’m not very good at comforting people,” Wang Yu said. “However, the past is set in stone; we cannot change it, but we can determine the future. I’ve always deeply resonated with a saying, one I learned from what might be a rather naive story, and now I offer it to you: ‘Causes arise and cease, flowers bloom and wither; extremes breed opposites, misfortune and fortune are intertwined.’ I hope you can rally. If you can properly utilize the current adversity, perhaps an unexpected surprise awaits.”
Situ Yan looked deeply at Wang Yu. “I truly envy Brother Yue.”
Wang Yu, seemingly not hearing him, turned her gaze to the plaza. The time had arrived. Situ Yan finished reading Situ Yan (Second Son)’s crimes and ordered his beheading.
As the blade rose and fell, the second young master, once arrogant and overbearing in Furnace City, was separated from his head.
The surrounding crowd erupted in a roar of cheers. They would not have imagined that these cheers were also daggers slicing into the hearts of certain individuals.
Family Head Situ Yan’s face remained calm, but his hands were tightly clenched. Situ Yan and Situ Yi also showed sorrow in their eyes. No one knew how Situ Huo was faring at this moment, but he must undoubtedly be suffering as well.
Just then, a person approached Situ Yan. “Junior Brother, please accept my condolences.”
Situ Yan turned to find his senior disciple, Xie Lingyu. “Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother.”
Xie Lingyu calmly stated, “Perhaps now isn’t the most appropriate time, but Junior Brother, in the upcoming sect competition, I will go all out and show no mercy. So, rather than dwelling on the present, you should focus on how to deal with me.”
With that, Xie Lingyu departed.
“Third Brother, he…” Situ Yi looked displeased.
Situ Yan shook his head. “It’s fine. He’s right, and he bears no ill will.”
Wang Yu also wished to return early to plan her own affairs. “Then I shall take my leave as well. Goodbye.”
“Mm. Thank you for your guidance, Miss Wang.” Situ Yan watched Wang Yu depart.
Situ Yi whispered, “Brother, aren’t you going to try? Such a wonderful woman, and a disciple of that person.”
Situ Yan glanced at his fourth brother, then twisted his ear and dragged him away. “Focus on yourself.” ‘I don’t want to, but some things cannot be forced,’ he thought.
Your next favorite story awaits! Don't miss out on Grandmother, What Did You Leave Behind – click to dive in!
Read : Grandmother, What Did You Leave Behind
