Chapter 97
It took about an hour by boat to reach Mechanism Island. Yu Sui used the Five Elements Light Core to watch Mei Liangyu work, listening to his conversation with the two Wenyang brothers, her expression thoughtful.
Recalling the intelligence about Mei Liangyu that Blackbeard had shown her initially, almost everything was blank: parents, family background, relatives and friends, nationality, his past before coming to Taiyi, nothing could be found.
Now it seemed even Senior Brother himself didn't know these things.
He had forgotten.
Or rather, someone had placed a seal on him, making him forget.
Yu Sui leaned against the deck's edge, looking up at the clouds in the sky, watching as the sky gradually darkened, with heavy black clouds slowly moving across her eyes.
Sealed memories.
It seemed Senior Brother himself knew about it.
Master didn't let him leave Taiyi, was it fear that he'd encounter people who knew him outside, or fear that he would remember?
Yu Sui hadn't expected there to be such circumstances surrounding Mei Liangyu. She recalled again that scene in the rainy night cave, the uncontrolled killing intent and destructive desire when Senior Brother awakened. Now she could be certain this should be related to Senior Brother's sealed memories.
Senior Brother controlled it very well.
Perhaps he still hadn't remembered the reason for destruction.
Yu Sui's gaze turned toward the distance, appearing ethereal, yet her consciousness was watching Mei Liangyu, who had his back to her and was hammering at dragon carriages. Her heart trembled.
Maybe even his name was fake.
Missing memories sealed his past. The person living now was Mei Liangyu, but not the original him.
Living while hiding his true self.
This situation was subtle, making Yu Sui feel some resonance.
……
When Yu Sui reached Mechanism Island, dark clouds had suddenly appeared, causing the sky to darken early, as if thunderstorms were approaching. The sky pressed low, and the wind at the dock was strong, blowing her clothes and hair in wild disarray.
Mechanism Island not only had docking points for Cloud Carriage Flying Dragons, but the dock also had many cargo ships moored here. People from the Mechanism Families were busy moving goods back and forth. They were occupied and didn't pay much attention to Yu Sui. Academy disciples coming here wasn't unusual to them.
Yu Sui didn't immediately go find Mei Liangyu, but wandered around the dock area instead.
Just looking made her feel the high temperature discomfort on Senior Brother's side, and it was still daytime. She didn't want to make herself suffer unnecessarily.
Inside Ancient Tower, due to forging mechanisms, other Nine Schools Arts couldn't be used for cooling.
After Mei Liangyu finished work, he was already soaked through, with water dripping from his hair. He didn't put on his clothes, just bent to pick up his outer garment and draped it over his shoulder, leaving Ancient Tower for the seaside.
Ancient Tower was close to the sea. Passing through a row of decorative rocks and trees, walking down the slope, one could see the sandy ground and boundless ocean.
Coming out and being blown by the night wind, the alternation of hot and cold made one's scalp tingle.
Mei Liangyu didn't mind the gloomy sky, carrying his clothes on his shoulder as he walked into the sea. There were black giant rocks by the seaside blocking the wind. He threw his clothes on the rocks and sank into the sea, his skin gently embraced by the cool seawater to cool down. The underwater world was quiet yet full of pressure.
Yu Sui had just walked up the tree-lined path to Ancient Tower, standing in the corridor on the hillside looking at the sea below.
She noticed Senior Brother had left Ancient Tower to play diving in the sea, so she set off.
A huge white-headed black-feathered sea eagle circled above the sea. Its eyes focused on the waters below, with Mei Liangyu's swimming figure reflected in its sharp gaze.
Mei Liangyu used Eight Trigrams Living Arts to cross water, reaching the deep sea area, guiding the white-headed black-feathered sea eagle's direction. Waiting for the right moment, the sea eagle dove into the water with lightning speed, grabbing a fish showing its white belly, splashing water that fell back into the sea.
The sea eagle caught the fish but didn't eat it. Instead, it flew in a circle in the air, letting out sharp cries as if showing off, then released its claws at height, letting the fish fall back into the water, its life or death unknown.
Mei Liangyu emerged from the water, wiped the water from his face, and looked up with half-squinted eyes at the sea eagle that had thrown the fish away.
He raised one hand, placing the other by his mouth to whistle. The sharp whistle sound summoned the sea eagle.
The sea eagle spread its wings, flying down from above. Its incredibly sharp-looking talons came to his arm with buffering intent, even lightly jumping in midair when landing to reduce force so as not to hurt Mei Liangyu's unprotected arm.
Mei Liangyu first smoothed its relatively fluffy head, then pressed its head into the seawater: "Wasting food, huh."
The sea eagle raised its head and shook off water, flapping its wings at him. When fully spread, the wings were as big as half an adult, nearly flapping Mei Liangyu back into the water.
One person and one eagle fought in the water, splashing everywhere.
Yu Sui stopped by the water corridor, her back to the sea, yet watching with amusement.
Mei Liangyu fought with the sea eagle for a while then dove back underwater. When the heat on his body had cooled sufficiently, he swam back to shore, using Five Elements Energy to disperse the water vapor. His black hair hung loose behind him, lacking the usual coldness and oppressive feeling of tied hair, gaining some lazy gentleness instead.
The sky had turned completely dark, with no stars or moon visible, only the night wind still arrogant and wild.
The wind blew Mei Liangyu's hair in disarray, so he casually tied it in a low ponytail, holding his hair down from being blown up. Mei Liangyu looked up at the sea eagle still flying above. The night wind was too cold, making him squint, and he slowly bent to pick up his black outer garment to put on.
The sea eagle flew down to the giant rock at his whistle, tilting its head to look at him.
Mei Liangyu picked up a few small stones, turned around and threw them forcefully at the sea surface: "Go."
The sea eagle flew out like an arrow, catching the stones in its mouth before they fell, then flying back to spit them out to Mei Liangyu.
After Mei Liangyu finished throwing all the stones in his hand, the sea eagle flew away.
The sea eagle only came briefly to play with him for a while.
Mei Liangyu looked up in the direction the sea eagle flew for a moment, then withdrew his gaze with a relaxed posture, leaning against the black giant rock about half a person's height, his gaze aimless.
Whenever the surroundings quieted, Mei Liangyu's mind would think of partial memory fragments: battles in rainy nights in the city, scattered light and tree shadows in mountain residences, the moment of soft-heartedness when a purple-clothed woman stood in front of him.
He tried to discover more from those small details.
When Mei Liangyu realized he had family, he no longer hesitated and would definitely choose to recover his memories.
When he first came to Taiyi, the strangeness this world held for him was something Mei Liangyu found unforgettable even now.
The thoughtless discussions and verbal targeting among children, even though some later maturely apologized to him, Mei Liangyu couldn't forget the feeling of walking alone behind crowds.
Emotions, once generated, were very hard to forget.
But those memory fragments told him: you didn't need to suffer these things at all.
You once lived very well.
You shouldn't be the wild child people frequently discussed. You have parents.
Your parents also fought desperately to protect you.
Then why should I become like this now?
And why must I forget them?
Everyone coming to Taiyi had their own things they wanted to do, goals they wanted to achieve.
Zhongli Shan came to Taiyi to find a way to break Asura Eyes.
Cang Shu came to Taiyi to cure Shi Yuezhen's eyes.
Nian Qiuyan came to Taiyi because he didn't want to fight wars.
Xing Chun came to Taiyi because he didn't want the scheming and plotting of being the family heir.
Even Brother Gu wanted to secretly find things at Taiyi.
But Mei Liangyu didn't know what he came to Taiyi to do. He didn't resist cultivation, but he also didn't necessarily have to become the strongest Nine Schools Arts practitioner. Yet if he wanted nothing and had no goals, he was incompatible with those around him.
He had to find something to do.
Cultivation was one thing.
But besides cultivation, there should be other things.
But he had forgotten.
Yu Sui had once wanted to use Senior Brother to get close to Saint Chang Gen, not knowing that Saint Chang Gen's current gentle treatment of Mei Liangyu was also something he had gained through scheming and manipulation back then.
Some people were naturally born able to easily obtain others' favoritism.
Unfortunately, neither he nor Yu Sui were such people.
When Mei Liangyu thought about how seeking memories might put him in opposition to Master, he felt somewhat uneasy.
Having such emotions was extremely rare for him.
Especially since he could feel Master becoming increasingly indulgent toward him, no longer like the coldness and distance of the first two years. This old man of unknown age had truly accepted him, seeing him as a beloved junior.
If he gave up recovering memories.
Mei Liangyu would have to live at Taiyi for the rest of his life.
Until death.
He remembered that year at Five Elements Water Field, when Gao Tianhao was dying, leaning against a column in the water field. The open-air water field reflected the Milky Way above, and they were separated by the distance of a galaxy.
The disheveled old man coughed blood, looking at him with gentle, smiling eyes, saying hoarsely: "Someday you'll leave Taiyi and return."
Return where?
Besides Ghost Way Saint Hall, where else could he return to?
The night wind was fierce, or perhaps his hair was too smooth. The hair tie slipped down, causing Mei Liangyu's long hair that had just been tied to scatter again.
Yu Sui saw Senior Brother standing by the sea, his gaze aimless, his long hair blown loose again, black strands blown by the wind against his neck and cheeks, rising and falling.
Inexplicably conveying a sense of loneliness.
This was the first time Yu Sui had seen such a Mei Liangyu.
His fair, handsome face showed no emotion, his posture against the giant rock was relaxed. With loose hair, his aura was unexpectedly gentle. Though his gaze was aimless, perhaps thinking of something, his usually cold and proud features gradually became serene, silently blending into the night, as if making himself transparent, about to disappear from this world.
The light core made Yu Sui feel as if she stood right beside Mei Liangyu, closely sensing his spreading silent emotions, with heavy loneliness completely swallowing him.
Yu Sui stared blankly.
She had thought Senior Brother had so many friends and such a powerful Master as backing, he seemed to have nothing to do with loneliness.
……
When hair strands brushed his cheek, Mei Liangyu felt a moment of coolness, bringing him back to awareness.
The instant he returned to awareness, he put away all thoughts and aura. His Wind-Listening Ruler buzzed, and Mei Liangyu took it out to check, seeing Xing Chun talking about tonight's dinner dishes and asking if he wanted some brought over.
Mei Liangyu replied: "By the time you bring it, it'll be midnight."
Xing Chun: "Have it as a late-night snack then."
Mei Liangyu: "Don't want it."
Xing Chun asked again: "The dining hall has iced sour plum soup today. You really don't want any?"
Mei Liangyu: "No."
After Xing Chun was busy for a while, he came back to continue chatting: "How about Little Shan and I beat up Brother Gu and come to Mechanism Island to keep you company?"
Mei Liangyu read this speechlessly, slowly tapping the fill-character grid: "You two wouldn't come to Mechanism Island then, but go to Confinement Island instead."
"I was just kidding. I don't want to go to Confinement Island." Xing Chun was heading to the dining hall with Zhongli Shan and others. "You left early and didn't hear what others said. Earlier Nangong Sui came out and argued with Brother Gu. Brother Gu chased her all the way back to the dormitory. Don't know if he managed to coax her."
"Little Junior Sister is kind-hearted and soft. She might forgive him after Brother Gu's sweet words. You should influence her, make her steel her heart."
Mei Liangyu read this and snorted coldly.
If Brother Gu could coax her successfully, he'd write his name backwards.
I haven't even coaxed her yet. What's he coaxing?
Mei Liangyu opened Yu Sui's message interface, his fingertip lightly tapping the fill-character grid, then paused, slowly frowning.
Yu Sui had already walked to Ancient Tower's side, standing in a corridor surrounded by giant trees. She could see Mei Liangyu on the beach below with a turn of her head.
Seeing Senior Brother pause at her message interface for a long time, as if wanting to send a message but somewhat reluctant.
She just waited, watching what Senior Brother would ultimately send.
The sea eagle cried out as it flew back to play with Mei Liangyu.
But Mei Liangyu ignored it, his gaze fixed on the Wind-Listening Ruler, his slender finger poised on the fill-character grid. After a long while, he sent: "What dishes does the dining hall have tonight?"
Yu Sui couldn't help but laugh after reading this.
Recent gloom dispersed by more than half with this laugh.
Yu Sui took out her Wind-Listening Ruler, smiling as she looked at his message, but didn't reply immediately, leaving Mei Liangyu hanging for quite a while.
Mei Liangyu just waited. The sea eagle flew overhead, also waiting for Mei Liangyu to call it down to play stone-throwing, not knowing the person on the ground was completely oblivious to its existence. He tapped his Wind-Listening Ruler lightly, counting time beat by beat.
The Wind-Listening Ruler buzzed and lit up. Mei Liangyu immediately checked.
Yu Sui replied: "Don't know. I didn't go look."
Mei Liangyu read this and raised his eyebrows slightly.
She was still willing to reply to his messages, so she probably wasn't angry.
But wasn't this tone a bit too cold?
She's usually not this cold to me.
Due to frequent cargo negotiations, Mechanism Island had collaborated between Taiyi's Communication Department and the Mechanism Families to modify the island's Number Mountains. Within Mechanism Island, Wind-Listening Rulers could be used for voice transmission anytime.
While Mei Liangyu pondered the cold tone issue, Yu Sui had already sent him a voice transmission prompt. Seeing the prompt, Mei Liangyu's eyelid twitched. His hand moved faster than his brain and accepted it.
"Senior Brother."
The girl's gentle voice came through the Wind-Listening Ruler, seeming to gain some ethereal quality.
Mei Liangyu looked down, responding deeply: "Mm."
Voice transmission was different from text messages. People's tone and demeanor when replying revealed different thoughts and were easier to see through and understand.
Yu Sui stared at Mei Liangyu, asking softly: "Are you returning to the academy?"
Mei Liangyu said lazily: "Not so soon."
Yu Sui added: "I asked Master today if I could go to Mechanism Island to see you. Master said I could."
Mei Liangyu was slightly stunned: "You're coming over?"
"Yes!" Yu Sui asked, "Is that not okay?"
Why wouldn't it be okay?
Mei Liangyu said: "Come if you want to."
Yu Sui leaned against the corridor's stone pillar, smiling as she asked: "Should I bring you something? I heard from Li Jin Shuang that the dining hall has iced sour plum soup today. Do you want some, Senior Brother?"
Mei Liangyu's gaze turned to the surging seawater ahead, saying slowly: "Yes."
Yu Sui spoke at a moderate pace, with only slight laughter audible in her words: "I heard where you're staying is very hot. I'll bring you more drinks. If I go to the dining hall now, I should make it in time. Should I bring more main dishes too? Senior Brother, did you eat today?"
Mei Liangyu said without changing expression: "No."
Yu Sui said in surprise: "Not even one meal?"
Mei Liangyu seemed very candid: "Didn't eat."
Yu Sui sighed: "Senior Brother, but I didn't bring main dishes today, only some snacks and drinks."
Mei Liangyu felt something was wrong: "You reached the dining hall this fast?"
When he asked this, the sea eagle let out a bright cry above. Mei Liangyu heard it from Yu Sui's side too and couldn't help turning around, immediately spotting Yu Sui standing in the hillside corridor.
Yu Sui saw Mei Liangyu turn from beside the black rock, saying softly: "Senior Brother, I've arrived."
Mei Liangyu: "......"
He mentally gritted his teeth calling Yu Sui's name while saying: "Stay there, don't move."
Yu Sui cut off the voice transmission.
Mei Liangyu felt both annoyed and amused, put away his Wind-Listening Ruler, and walked toward Yu Sui.
Yu Sui stood in place without moving, quietly watching Senior Brother hurry toward her, the distance between them decreasing as Mei Liangyu approached.