Chapter 104
The Wenyang family members in the corridor didn't want others watching the spectacle, having people use Wind-Riding Techniques to bring Wenyang Hui back to Cloud Court.
Situ Jin covered Situ Ling's mouth, preventing her from greeting Mei Liangyu, and quietly led her away.
Wenyang Xiu came before Mei Liangyu, sighed, and pointed in a direction: "There's already a boat waiting over there. Go back to the academy first."
Mei Liangyu said: "Will you do the work at Ancient Tower for me?"
Wenyang Xiu said irritably: "Who still wants you to work at a time like this? All academy punishments have been crossed out. Go quickly, go quickly."
Only then did Mei Liangyu leave with Yu Sui.
On the way, Mei Liangyu asked Shi Yuezhen whether this delayed her going to cultivate with Jiang Shulan. Shi Yuezhen shook her head: "Master wanted me to come this time to reconcile the relationship between Qian Ying and me. Having a chance to leave suits me perfectly."
After speaking, she looked at the two of them with somewhat worried expression: "But you two..."
"First examine my Junior Sister, help stabilize her heart meridian," Mei Liangyu said.
Shi Yuezhen nodded.
After the three boarded the boat, they left Mechanism Island and headed back to the academy.
Wind and rain lashed along the way, with thunder rumbling endlessly.
Yu Sui lay on the small bed in the boat cabin. Taking advantage of being still conscious, she first replied to Xue Mushi's message, indicating he shouldn't worry and that she was fine.
Then she fell into deep sleep.
She was truly too exhausted and weak, with severe mental damage requiring recuperation.
Mei Liangyu didn't have Shi Yuezhen do much, only asking her to help stabilize the heart meridian. Though Yu Sui looked like a blood-covered person, her severe injuries were mainly from the strike to her chest.
Everything else was wounds brought out from Dragon Slaying Cave.
When Yu Sui was sleeping, Mei Liangyu and Shi Yuezhen briefly discussed what had happened tonight. After hearing it, Shi Yuezhen pondered: "I could see before that Wenyang Hui wanted to kill you, but I didn't expect he would go to such lengths."
Mei Liangyu frowned, immersing both hands in the medicinal water basin to clean blood and wounds, his tone turning cold: "I appeared when he was most proud of his abilities. In terms of Nine Schools talent, he resents me, believing I stole his limelight. I can understand that, but he refuses to admit it, insisting on attributing the reason to his parents favoring me."
When he said this, his eyebrows and eyes were full of disgust.
What Wenyang Hui called favoritism was simply Wenyang Zhi acknowledging that Mei Liangyu's talent was above his, nothing more.
Lady Linxiang herself was gentle and kind, treating everyone with the same gentle smile. Because her son disliked Mei Liangyu, she barely even smiled at him.
Wenyang Zhi had never provided any material help for Mei Liangyu's cultivation or daily life. The Wenyang family paid attention to this child because of the secrets he carried and the power he represented, not out of affection.
Instead, it was Wenyang Zhi who had been cleaning up after Wenyang Hui's targeting of Mei Liangyu over the years, going to apologize to Saint Chang Gen and promising multiple times it wouldn't happen again.
But Wenyang Hui always kept saying how much my parents favor you, as if Mei Liangyu had stolen all the parental love and everything from him. Mei Liangyu had never thought much of it before, only thinking Wenyang Hui was a twisted person, and that Wenyang Zhi and Lady Linxiang were unlucky to have such a son.
When Mei Liangyu remembered he had once had parents who truly doted on him, thinking again of Wenyang Hui's words made him feel disgusted.
Wenyang Hui's hatred and resentment toward him was as if he had stolen all of Wenyang Hui's family affection.
Who would want it.
Mei Liangyu's five fingers gripped the edge of the medicinal basin, his fingertips turning white from exertion. His dark pupils reflected the blue-black medicinal water. The swaying water surface shattered light and shadow, making the image unable to form, just like his missing memories.
Shi Yuezhen was examining Yu Sui and didn't notice Mei Liangyu's cold expression at the moment, saying softly: "I'm not surprised Wenyang Hui could do such things, but your relationship with the Wenyang family in the future..."
Mei Liangyu imperceptibly restrained the anger that suddenly surged up, looking at the sleeping Yu Sui and saying quietly: "It wasn't that good to begin with."
Shi Yuezhen smiled briefly, then turned to Mei Liangyu: "Her condition isn't suitable for returning to the dormitory building, and she can't be placed in the medical hall. Let Sui Sui stay at my place tonight."
Mei Liangyu agreed.
……
Xue Mushi finally received Yu Sui's message, the weight in his heart falling to the ground as he breathed a sigh of relief. Looking up, however, he found Wei Ren sitting across from him, staring at him with a cold expression.
"She's fine," Xue Mushi tapped his Wind-Listening Ruler, explaining. "You can go back too."
"I know she's fine now," Wei Ren said with a forced smile. "But she didn't reply to me."
Xue Mushi: "......"
What was there to care about?
Wei Ren stared at him with some investigation: "After you two went to Dragon Slaying Cave, your relationship has made rapid progress."
By rights, he should have more secrets with Nangong Sui. Wei Ren hadn't noticed what kind of beneficial cooperation relationship existed between Xue Mushi and Nangong Sui.
Xue Mushi thought about it and said: "When you weren't around, Nangong Sui, Li Jin Shuang, and I would go challenge Military Formations. We became much more familiar before entering Dragon Slaying Cave."
Wei Ren: "......"
It was clearly a four-person agreement, how did they stop including me?
Xue Mushi added: "Weren't you still recovering from injuries? This trip to Dragon Slaying Cave was also somewhat forced for you."
Wei Ren couldn't listen anymore. Clearly I was the most capable originally, how did I end up being the most useless? He couldn't stand it, glaring fiercely at Xue Mushi and slapping the table as he stood: "You're even more useless. When guests come here, they can't even get a cup of water."
Xue Mushi was startled, his eyelid jumping as he said weakly: "Because originally only I live here."
"Then no one would come?" Wei Ren looked back at him.
Xue Mushi nodded.
Wei Ren left in anger.
Although Wei Ren felt uncomfortable about Yu Sui only replying to Xue Mushi's message, after returning and lying in bed thinking about it, he felt he could understand.
If he were in Nangong Sui's position, he wouldn't spare his own life, insisting on killing no matter what. Though he had luckily survived, it would be impossible to gain the trust of such a sensitive and suspicious person.
Wei Ren couldn't quite fall asleep, thinking left and right about what to do next to make Nangong Sui trust him a bit more.
……
Qian Ying didn't get a chance to ask Yu Sui what happened in the second layer of Mechanism Island, so she quietly sent a message to Brother Gu at the academy, informing him of Wenyang Hui's death at Saint Chang Gen's hands.
Brother Gu had already rested. Learning of this, he sat up from bed, his mind rapidly searching all related information. During the day, Wenyang Hui had only said he was returning to Mechanism Island but hadn't mentioned taking action against Mei Liangyu tonight.
Brother Gu knew Wenyang Hui's temperament very well.
The first friend Brother Gu made when coming to Taiyi was Wenyang Hui. The process was extremely difficult, essentially turning from enemies to friends. Because it was difficult, the impression was deep. To say there were no feelings would be impossible.
Suddenly learning of his good friend's tragic death, Brother Gu sat on the bedside stunned for quite a while. Finally realizing that Wenyang Hui had also injured Yu Sui this time, he slowly frowned, cursed inwardly, got up, and walked outside.
Ji Meng was still in the main room tending his medicinal flowers. Suddenly seeing Brother Gu come out, he yawned and asked: "What's wrong? What happened again? You look rather unwell."
"Wenyang Hui is dead," Brother Gu said in a deep voice.
Huo Xiao, who wasn't asleep in the room, also came out with furrowed brows, looking at Brother Gu with puzzled eyes, obviously having heard what was just said.
"Ah?" Ji Meng was frightened by these words, standing by the flower platform at the window stunned for quite a while. As if without strength, he sat back down, eyes wide: "Didn't he return to Mechanism Island, back to his own home? Who could kill him?"
Brother Gu threw his Wind-Listening Ruler to Ji Meng, letting them see Qian Ying's message for themselves.
After reading it, Ji Meng looked dazed, not knowing what to say.
He was still in disbelief.
"He can't just die like this," Huo Xiao said in a low voice.
"All three Wenyang family heads were present, plus the compassionate Medical School Saint witnessed it, yet none of them saved Wenyang Hui. It will be difficult to have other developments afterward."
Brother Gu lowered his eyes, speaking calmly. His expression was also gentler than his usual sharp coldness, but this gentleness was more compassionate.
Ji Meng was stunned hearing this and asked: "So he just died like that? Even Second Head Wenyang actually..."
Huo Xiao said coldly: "He said before that his parents both favored Mei Liangyu, treating Mei Liangyu as their own son."
Ji Meng fell into silence.
As a concubine's son of the Ji family, not being favored by parents was a feeling he could relate to. When his heart ached, he also felt Wenyang Hui wasn't worth it.
"He won't just die like this," Brother Gu stood in the shadows of the room. "At least I won't let it end like this."
……
It was already late at night with few people moving about in the dormitory building. Mei Liangyu brought Yu Sui to Shi Yuezhen's room to settle her, leaving Shi Yuezhen to help her wash up before coming out.
Cang Shu yawned standing in the main room, looking at the blood-covered Mei Liangyu and sighing: "You should change clothes too."
He asked: "Should I get them from your place, or wear mine?"
Mei Liangyu shook his head.
Cang Shu said: "You should have agreed to let us go to Mechanism Island tonight."
Mei Liangyu frowned as if pondering something. He walked toward the door: "I need to return to Saint Hall first."
"What for?" Cang Shu's gaze followed him. "Change clothes first before going. Going out like this will frighten the night patrol instructors."
Mei Liangyu: "Then let them be frightened to death."
Cang Shu: "......"
Seeing Mei Liangyu open the door, Cang Shu took out a small white jade bottle from his sleeve and tossed it to him: "Take some, stabilize the scattered energy in your body."
Mei Liangyu caught it with his other hand: "Thanks."
Cang Shu said: "Don't mention it. I think you seem to have pain insensitivity, so next time I test poisons, just let my venomous insects take a couple bites."
"Here." Mei Liangyu, who was about to close the door, expressionlessly threw the medicine bottle back.
Cang Shu waved his hand, and the bottle was bounced back into Mei Liangyu's hand while still in the air. His eyes signaled him to go and return quickly.
Inside the room, Shi Yuezhen was using a damp cloth soaked in warm water to wipe Yu Sui's face, and had lit medicinal incense in the room to calm the mind and spirit.
Yu Sui couldn't sleep well, waking frequently but then getting drowsy again. So even when awake, she didn't show it, keeping her eyes closed and pretending to sleep.
She had heard the conversation about Mei Liangyu returning to Ghost Way Saint Hall and was slightly startled. Remembering the Yin-Yang School Star Source Curse Mei Liangyu had left with her, she estimated that Senior Brother would definitely have his memories erased when he returned this time.
Heavenly Eye had directly analyzed the Star Source Curse Mei Liangyu transmitted to her, which Yu Sui hadn't expected, just like how she could passively see those defensive curses in Ghost Way Saint Hall.
Curse techniques seemed to be analyzable for Five Elements Energy composition and flow like Counting Mountains.
She had only glanced briefly before, but now Yu Sui patiently examined each memory in the Star Source Curse:
The memories showed city prosperity she had never seen, with street peddlers selling various wares: different styles of pouches, tassel ornaments worn at the waist, bright red candied hawthorns, paper windmills painted with purple flowers and green bamboo.
A boy running ahead against the crowd in the night market.
Paper windmills on fences along both sides of mountain paths, having similarities with Counting Mountains that received heaven and earth's Five Elements Energy.
A woman handing a paper windmill to the boy.
In a peaceful courtyard, one black and one white long fish swimming leisurely, with the faint sound of someone running past on the rear corridor.
On a drizzly night in the city, danger lurked everywhere. The young boy who was recognizably Senior Brother was overpowered and knelt on the deserted street, but in the blink of an eye, the situation reversed instantly as a purple-clothed woman blocked his path, deflecting all killing moves.
Yu Sui watched these scenes over and over many times.
She could feel gentleness, tranquility, and determination from these memories, proving that Senior Brother had grown up pampered by his family.
He should have grown up loved by his family.
……
When Mei Liangyu returned to the dormitory building, he just missed Brother Gu who had gone to the first floor. Now as he came to the dormitory building entrance, he ran right into Brother Gu waiting outside.
Brother Gu was alone.
Outside the dormitory building was a large peach blossom grove. The peach grove here never withered, flowers never fading. At night, the yellow streetlights dotted the pink and white flower branches, also tinting them with warm orange.
Learning that Mei Liangyu had brought Yu Sui back, Brother Gu prepared to intercept him at the dormitory building, not expecting him to come out from inside.
Mei Liangyu hadn't changed clothes, the thick blood on his body was oppressive, only having washed his hands. The murderous aura still remained.
He only glanced at Brother Gu peripherally for an instant, walking straight ahead, but was stopped by Brother Gu raising his hand in the middle of the path.
Brother Gu looked at Mei Liangyu with icy eyes. He didn't intend to fight him now, only wanting to find Yu Sui first, so he asked: "Where is Sui Sui?"
Mei Liangyu turned to look at Brother Gu, golden light flowing in his pupils: Medical School Pupil Technique, Heart Through the Eyes.
Brother Gu neither avoided nor dodged. At such close distance, he could easily dispel Mei Liangyu's Nine Schools Arts with Divine Mechanism: Heavenly Official.
The seal in Mei Liangyu's body was affected again, memory fragments flashing through his mind:
Under moonlight at night, the table was covered with various mechanism blueprints. The white-clothed man sitting at the table had an upright, clear posture while drawing. When he turned sideways, his gentle features and the coolness of his phoenix eyes were both dissolved by the tenderness overflowing from his pupils.
The white-clothed man's gaze swept over three children playing with mechanism dice behind him.
A girl in peach-pink fuzzy clothes had her hair in two small braids, carved like jade, only five or six years old. She pounced on her twin brother, raising her small fist threateningly with an imposing manner.
Another brother had just snatched back his mechanism dice, angrily turning to join the fray as all three wrestled together.
The white-clothed man looked at them and sighed: "Give Papa some face. Let Papa finish explaining the mechanism principles before fighting, alright?"