Chapter 422 - 421: Eyes
Ming Liu has delicate features, and sometimes Yun Qi teases him by saying, "You look like a young lady." He says that if Mu Lianxiao ever needs a woman to step in for something, Ming Liu could just style his hair and change clothes to impersonate one.
Over the years, following Mu Lianxiao at the border, Ming Liu hasn’t tanned. He’s still as fair as a girl raised in a secluded inner chamber.
He rushed in, eyes bright with a thin film of light.
His cheeks flushed with excitement, making him momentarily speechless.
Mu Lianxiao was taken aback and stepped forward to ask, "Have you found Yu Zhi? Is he still alive?"
Ming Liu vigorously nodded his head.
Upon hearing this, Mu Lianxiao was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when Ming Liu shook his head vehemently again.
Jiuxi, who was nearby, was anxious beyond measure, "Why are you panicking! First nodding, then shaking your head, hurry up and tell us."
Ming Liu took a deep breath, calmed his racing heart slightly, and said, "It’s Mr. Mu; both Young Master Ye and Mr. Mu have returned."
Du Yunluo jumped to her feet, feeling as if her chest had exploded with a bang, leaving her mind blank.
The only person Ming Liu would refer to as Mr. Mu, who would make him so excited after a half-hour gallop, could only be Mu Liankang.
That Mu Liankang who vanished eight and a half years ago on his way back to the Capital from the Northern Border.
No remains were found, and no one knew whether Mu Liankang was dead or alive. Over the past eight years, despite Madam Wu and Mrs. Xu’s reluctance, they could only assume Mu Liankang was dead.
And now, this person has returned, and he is alive.
He really is alive.
Mu Lianxiao stood still, hearing his own heartbeat, faster with each beat.
For a moment, he thought he heard incorrectly, but seeing Jiuxi also dumbfounded, he believed this was real.
"Is it really big brother?" Mu Lianxiao’s voice trembled.
Ming Liu nodded heavily.
Having followed Mu Lianxiao for years, he knew how persistent his princely heir was about Mu Liankang.
Evidently, they went to the border together to bring back the spirits, yet only Mu Liankang didn’t return.
Over the years, Mu Lianxiao occasionally visited Qinglian Temple to seek Mu Tang, all for the sake of Mu Liankang.
Today, the living Mu Liankang stood right in front of Ming Liu. Although so many years had passed and his figure and face were different from before, Ming Liu knew it was Mu Liankang.
Mu Lianxiao clenched his hand tightly to steady his trembling body. He took a deep breath, and instantly, his eyes turned red.
His big brother, after all, has returned, alive.
If the Capital hears of this news, if Madam Wu and Mrs. Xu learn of it, who knows how overjoyed they would be.
Thinking of the family’s worry for Mu Liankang over the years, Mu Lianxiao wiped his face with his hand.
Du Yunluo gradually came to her senses, looking at Mu Lianxiao. It was the first time she saw such an expression on his face.
He had laughed, gotten angry, blushed, been conflicted, sulky, and helpless, but never cried. Now, Mu Lianxiao was almost moved to tears with joy.
Du Yunluo held the hand that Mu Lianxiao still clenched tightly and said, "Go quickly, big brother is still waiting for you."
Mu Lianxiao nodded, hugged Du Yunluo, and left with Ming Liu.
Soon, the sound of horses’ hooves faded away outside the courtyard.
Two fast horses kicked up dust, and Mu Lianxiao didn’t bother to ask Ming Liu about the whole story; he was afraid of delaying the journey.
Ming Liu’s horse had just galloped at full speed and quickly fell behind Mu Lianxiao’s pace.
Upon reaching Shanyu Pass, Mu Lianxiao returned to his courtyard, finding it empty.
Hurriedly, he ran out again and asked a soldier, only to find out that Ye Yuzhi and the others were at General Huang’s place.
Mu Lianxiao rushed into General Huang’s place.
General Huang sat in the middle, with Huang Yun seated below, and on the other side were Ye Yuzhi and an unfamiliar figure.
Mu Lianxiao’s heart leapt to his throat.
He trusted Ming Liu wouldn’t get it wrong but felt a bit nervous, fearing it might not be Mu Liankang, and he’d be utterly disappointed.
Hesitatingly, Mu Lianxiao stepped forward, and that person turned his head and slowly stood up.
The man was rugged, taller than Mu Lianxiao, and his attire differed from theirs; upon closer inspection, it appeared to be the garb of a bandit roaming the Great Desert.
His complexion was dark, a beard circling his jaw, blurring even the contour of his face.
Only those eyes, Mu Lianxiao stared intently at those eyes.
Thick eyebrows, big eyes, a bright gaze, exactly like in his memory.
Just looking at those eyes, which were a spitting image of Mu Yuanming’s, their father’s eyes, Mu Lianxiao was certain this was his big brother.
Mu Lianxiao’s throat felt tight, as he called out, "Big brother!"
The man also looked at Mu Lianxiao, a touch of doubt flashing in his eyes, hesitantly saying, "Ah Shao?"
Mu Lianxiao nodded deeply.
"Ha..." the man let out a bitter laugh and said, "I don’t know if I’m your big brother. I don’t remember anything from before. The only thing I recall is having a father skilled in horse riding and a brother named Ah Shao."
Mu Lianxiao took a deep breath, his eyes stinging, his heart heavy.
He wasn’t surprised—in fact, it made sense. If Mu Liankang remembered the past, remembered he was born in the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, as long as he was alive, he would have returned home over the past eight years.
Only forgetting everything could explain his absence.
But then again, does remembering or not even matter?
As long as his big brother is alive, even if he forgets everything, he is still Mu Lianxiao’s big brother.
"Yes, your father, who is also my third uncle, was an exceptional horseman. When we were little, he took us to the racecourse," Mu Lianxiao grinned, "Under your right shoulder blade, is there an old scar? That’s from when Ay mischievously climbed a tree and fell. You caught him, fell to the ground, and a stone scratched you."
The man froze, instinctively raised his hand to touch below his right shoulder blade, and pursed his lips, saying, "There is."
Upon hearing this word, Mu Lianxiao’s tense body relaxed instantly, and his smile grew threefold, "Big brother, how have you lived these past eight years?"
Compared to Mu Lianxiao’s relief, Mu Liankang felt a mix of emotions.
He had no memory of the past. Indescribable headaches thwarted countless attempts to recall. As he said, he could only remember a father good at riding and a brother named Ah Shao.
Other than that, there was nothing left.
Now, finally seeing this brother, who could confirm his identity, he found it hard to believe.
Ye Yuzhi noticed Mu Liankang’s frown, patted his shoulder, and said to Mu Lianxiao, "That day, fighting the enemy, we accidentally rolled down a sand dune, entangled in combat, getting further from you.
When I finally killed him and tried to find my way back, there was no way to find it.
I survived a few days, thinking I was going to die in the desert, but was rescued by a group of bandits.
They said either join them or die. Among them, I found Mr. Mu.
Having not seen each other for so many years, at first glance, I thought I recognized the wrong person. I pretended to agree, following him to confirm his identity.
When he mentioned having a brother named Ah Shao, I was sure it was him and spent several days convincing him to bring me back to Shanyu Pass."