Chapter 231: Serves You Right
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The atmosphere became even colder.
It had begun to snow. Thin snowflakes fluttered down, sparkling like jade.
Murong Yong looked at Gu Yanfei without blinking. A storm seemed to be brewing in his dark eyes, and the stench of corpses seemed to have thickened.
Even the servants of the Murong family behind him subconsciously leaned closer to Murong Yong and sniffed with complicated expressions.
They all thought in the same direction in fear. In other words, Second Lady Gu was telling the truth. Old Madam Murong was really dead!
There were even timid servants who were so frightened that their legs trembled and their hair stood on end. They recalled that their families had recently served Old Madam Murong.
In less than ten minutes, Shangqing Spiritual Master's expression had changed a few times because of Gu Yanfei's words. His eyes were indescribably complicated.
He could no longer maintain his sage-like appearance, and his face darkened.
He took two steps closer to Gu Yanfei and questioned word by word, "Who are you)"
At this moment, Shangqing Spiritual Master's voice was no longer the usual emotionless voice. Instead, there was a hint of sharpness and a hint of unhappiness that someone had ruined things.
A straightforward person didn't resort to insinuations. Since Shangqing Spiritual Master had said so much, it meant that he didn't intend to hide anything stubbornly.
After thinking for a while, Shangqing Spiritual Master understood more and asked bluntly, 'Did you tear the talisman on the window?"
Murong Hao and his wife insisted that the talisman had been blown away by the wind. At that time, Shangqing Spiritual Master didn't believe them. He just couldn't be bothered to dwell on this problem.
Not everyone could remove the talisman he had pasted on the window. Only those who were related to Old Madam Murong or cultivators like him could remove it.
At that time, Shangqing Zhenren guessed that perhaps Murong Hao or others had wavered and wanted to give up. However, in the end, they were still reluctant to part with their future, so they only used one talisman.
The human heart was ever-changing. Shangqing Spiritual Master was already used to such things, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
He didn't expect such a person to be hidden in the Dingyuan Marquis
Household.
Shangqing Spiritual Master sized up Gu Yanfei with some scrutiny, probing, and speculation.
Seeing that Shangqing Spiritual Master didn't directly deny Gu Yanfei's words, Murong Yong felt as if a big hole was missing in his heart. Cold wind roared and poured in.
To him, "rushing joy" was to resolve the fiendishness with joyous events. It was more for the sake of festivity. There was no harm in failure, but success was beneficial to the Murong family.
Wasn't that what happened?
Could it be that Grandma had really...
Murong Yong felt a chill run down his spine. His heart sank as if it had been soaked in water.
At this moment, he suddenly felt a suffocating darkness. Even the scene of his family guarding his grandmother's bed and not letting others see her taking the medicine became extremely ironic.
His parents had also changed beyond recognition...
Murong Yong wasn't a young boy after all. His years of experience on the battlefield had made him far calmer than his peers. His heart was like a storm, but he still adjusted his emotions in the shortest time possible and barely maintained his composure.
He interrogated Shangqing Spiritual Master in a gloomy tone, "Is what she said
He stared intently at Shangqing Spiritual Master. His expression was solemn, and his words were clear. His eyes gradually became deep and ruthless, like a blade scraping across his face inch by inch.
Facing Murong Yong's aggressive questioning, Shangqing Spiritual Master smiled casually.
He casually flicked his horsetail whisk and returned to his sage-like appearance. He didn't directly answer yes or no. Instead, he said calmly, "The descendants of your family are filial. Your father couldn't bear to see your mother die. I was grateful for their filial piety, so I helped.'
'Everyone knows that rushing joy can resolve the evil of calamity and heal the seriously ill.
Shangqing Spiritual Master spoke righteously, but Murong Yong's brows were tightly furrowed. He could tell that the other party was patronizing him.
"Hehe..." Gu Yanfei smiled brightly, but there was undisguised mockery in her smile as she interrupted Shangqing Spiritual Master.
'Borrowing luck for the sake of rushing joy. Should I lend this luck to Old Madam Murong, or to you?" Gu Yanfei's voice was also tainted with the coldness of snow. A hint of coldness seeped into one's heart.
Shangqing Spiritual Master's expression changed slightly again, and he was shocked.
When did such a person appear in the capital?!
'You still want to enter the Tao after being tainted by the karma of life and death?" Gu Yanfei's words were sharp as she bluntly stabbed into the other party's heart. "You're really thinking too much.."
Chapter 232: Serves You Right
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The last word was deliberately drawn out, cynical and clever.
Last time, when Shangqing Spiritual Master came to the Marquis Mansion to treat Madam Gu, Gu Yanfei could tell that he wasn't a fake Taoist priest. He was talented, had spiritual roots, and had some true ability. If not for the fact that the spiritual energy in this small world was too weak, he could have drawn spiritual energy into his body.
Unfortunately, he was anxious to succeed and had evil intentions!
"1n this life, you're no longer fated to cultivate the Tao." Gu Yanfei shook her head. Her eyes were as clear and indifferent as water, and there was a transcendence in her expression.
She was an inch shorter than Shangqing Spiritual Master, but at this moment, Shangqing Spiritual Master inexplicably felt as if she was above the clouds, looking down at him.
They were so close, but they seemed so far apart, as if they were separated by a door called the Tao. She had entered the Tao, and he was still outside that door.
Shangqing Spiritual Master was in a daze for a moment. It was as if he had been seen through by those bright eyes. His experiences, his realm, and his secrets...
The other party was the sea, and he was just a clear stream that could be seen by everyone.
All these years, he had always looked down on others and others had always worshiped him.
And now, such a teenage girl actually made him feel pressured and unable to hide.
He had devoted himself to cultivating for decades before he finally achieved small success. He was proficient in five scriptures and six armors and was proficient in talismans and alchemy. However, in front of her, these weren't worth mentioning at all!
Shangqing Spiritual Master's heart tightened. The trace of coldness in his body spread rapidly, binding him tightly like a huge ice net.
His expression went from shock and confusion to at a loss, fear, and uneasiness... In the end, he held on, maintaining a precarious shell.
'Nonsense," Shangqing Spiritual Master forced himself to meet Gu Yanfei's eyes and said coldly.
Even though he felt a little uneasy, he still didn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it, nor did he dare to believe it.
Bits of snowflakes floated on his black, silver-haired hair, as if they had added a few silver strands to him, adding to his old appearance.
As for Gu Yanfei's head, Gu Yuan had already eagerly held up a tung oil umbrella for her to block the wind and snow outside.
Gu Yanfei stroked her chin and tilted her face to look at Shangqing Spiritual Master. She said slowly and firmly, 'You haven't made any progress in the past few years, right?"
Cracks appeared on the mask of the Shangqing Spiritual Master again. Shock was written on his face, and then it turned to fear.
She had hit the nail on the head!
For a moment, Shangqing Spiritual Master felt as if he had returned to the time when he was young and looked up at his master from outside the Wuliang Temple.
She wasn't on the same level as him at all.
Gu Yanfei chuckled. Her laughter was like silver bells and a spring breeze. Her smile was sly, lively, and lazy.
She said indifferently, "You deserve it!"
A gust of cold wind blew past, blowing away the fine snow in the air. It splashed onto the face of Shangqing Spiritual Master, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured on him.
'How dare you!" Shangqing Spiritual Master's face turned red. Veins popped up on his forehead, making his face look a little ferocious. He was a completely different person from his usual aloof appearance.
The rising anger in his body erupted at this moment.
He flew into a rage out of humiliation and raised the horsetail whisk in his hand to swing it at Gu Yanfei's face. The long silver thread drew an arc like a shooting star.
'Swoosh!"
The silver short sword was drawn from its sheath. A cold silver light flashed, as fast as lightning.
In the next moment, the countless silver threads on the horsetail whisk were cut by a sharp blade.
The silver threads were instantly blown away by the cold wind and danced in the sky with the white and crystalline snow in the air. Some were blown to the branches of the cypress trees, some floated to the top of the wall, some floated to the ground, and some were blown further and further away...
The scene was as beautiful as a dream.
The horsetail whisk in Shangqing Spiritual Master's hand was only left with a slender handle made of black iron and was now completely bare.
He stood frozen in place in a daze, his eyes almost bulging. His face alternated between green, white, and purple.
There was silence for a moment, making the sound of the wind seem louder.
"It's too late!"
Gu Yanfei gently flicked the short sword in her hand. The blade buzzed, and a silver thread hanging from the sword floated down.
She drawled leisurely, making Shangqing Spiritual Master's heart tremble.
Thud! Thud!
Shangqing Spiritual Master's heart suddenly raced, and he had a bad feeling.
Too late? What on earth was too late?
"What... what do you mean?" Shangqing Spiritual Master's eyes widened as he glared at Gu Yanfei. His tone was sharp and urgent.
Gu Yanfei said indifferently, "It's against the heavens to force a dead person to stay in the mortal world."
Although this small world's Heaven's Will wasn't very likable!
With a cool flick of her hand, she casually drew a beautiful sword and nimbly sheathed the short sword.
The cloak fell, covering the scabbard tightly. It returned to its usual casual appearance, and its sharp light disappeared.
Meeting Shangqing Spiritual Master's uncertain eyes, Gu Yanfei added, "The dead should go to the place of the dead.'
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Her voice was neutral and carried to everyone.
Murong Yong's heart beat violently twice, and his eyes darkened, unable to hide the malicious aura within.
Grandma couldn't die.
His dark eyes looked at Gu Yunzhen, who was standing beside Gu Yanfei, and he subconsciously took two steps towards her..
Chapter 233: Backlash
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The greed in Murong Yong's eyes for a moment was like a greedy ferocious beast blooming with a fierce glint.
'You overestimate yourself." Gu Yanfei sneered and subconsciously reached for her sword again, only to see Gu Yunzhen slowly walking forward with an umbrella.
The huge umbrella made Gu Yunzhen's fair face look especially small. Her skin was as delicate as jade, like a gentle, dignified, and quiet Guanyin jade statue.
However, the girl said something shocking. "Second Young Master Murong, I'm not marrying you."
"The Murong family forced me to rush joy by marrying you, so now I'm only rejecting the offer.'
'We don't owe each other anything."
Gu Yunzhen's tone was calm and composed. She was neither ashamed nor resentful, nor did she have any intention of venting her anger. She was just telling the other party her decision.
After a long silence, he asked slowly, "Are you... really going to break off the engagement?"
There was an imperceptible hoarseness in his deep voice. His figure was tall and slender in the howling wind.
'Yes." Gu Yunzhen nodded without hesitation. Her expression and voice were still calm as she calmly looked up into the other party's eyes.
It was a decision she had made on her own.
Murong Yong took a deep breath. The cold and damp air entered his lungs, bringing with it a hint of coldness, making him feel a chill from his fingertips to the surface of his body.
The darkness of his moment just now was laid bare in front of her , making him ashamed and guilty.
Murong Yong stood a few steps away from Gu Yunzhen in a daze. The shadow of the cypress tree above covered his face, making his face dark He looked at Gu Yunzhen with a gaze that couldn't be said to be shock or scrutiny.
She was different from the women he had seen in the past.
She looked soft and submissive, but in fact, she was assertive.
She looked gentle and demure, but she actually had her own style.
He narrowed his eyes at Gu Yunzhen, making his eyes look especially long. His deep eyes were like chains wrapped tightly around her.
Bits of snow floated on his head, the tip of his nose, the corners of his lips, and he didn't move, like a cold stone statue.
"There's still time!" Shangqing Spiritual Master said in an exasperated tone. "There's still time to rush joy now."
As long as Murong Yong and Gu Yunzhen immediately bowed to the heavens and the earth here, the wedding ceremony would be completed.
The rushing of joy would have succeeded!
He wouldn't be implicated in this karma...
Shangqing Spiritual Master's heart raced. He rushed towards Gu Yunzhen in three steps, but Murong Yong blocked him with his arm. The young man's strong arm was like a spear.
Murong Yong couldn't help but look at Gu Yunzhen and ask, "What if it's not to rush joy?"
If his grandmother wasn't seriously ill and they would get married in April the following year, would she still break off the engagement?
Murong Yong's deep gaze was still fixed on her face. There was a hint of heat, hope, and an almost invisible longing.
" Gu Yunzhen's long eyelashes were stained with a few snowflakes. When she blinked slightly, they flickered.
There was a blank look in her dark eyes.
But wasn't it the Murong family who suggested rushing the joy?
Seeing that Murong Yong was still dilly-dallying, Shangqing Spiritual Master frowned deeply. Just as he was about to push Murong Yong away, he looked up and saw Gu Yanfei's half-smile.
His heart tightened as fear rose in his heart.
After quickly weighing the pros and cons in his heart, he decisively changed his words. "Without her, there's still Liu Muyu!"
'Second Young Master Murong, since she doesn't agree to rush joy, let's not pester her anymore and hurry back to the Murong family.
If they returned to the Murong family now, they would still be able to make it in time. As long as Murong Yong accepted Liu Muyu, Old Madam Murong would be able to "live"!
Shangqing Spiritual Master's eyes were as sinister as an owl.
"It's too late.'
Gu Yanfei said these words meaningfully again.
Gu Yanfei raised her hand to catch a few snowflakes. Her smile was as cold as snow, and her expression was firm.
As soon as she said this, Shangqing Spiritual Master's heart seemed to be clenched in the palm of an invisible hand, or his soul was pinched. He was so cold from head to toe that there was no warmth.
'Blargh!"
A strong, sweet smell came from his throat. Shangqing Spiritual Master's upper body leaned forward slightly and he suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood.
Dark red blood sprayed onto the ground like red plums. It was a shocking sight.
'Spiritual Master!" His servant called out nervously and hurriedly went to help Shangqing Spiritual Master.
Shangqing Spiritual Master's pupils dilated. He waved his hand and pushed the servant away. His face was as pale as paper, and there was still a trace of blood at the corner of his lips. He was so weak that he looked as if he had been seriously ill, and even his fingers were trembling..
234 Backlash
Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
The handle of the horsetail whisk in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.
Thank you readers!
The servant cried out "Spiritual Master" again, trembling in fear.
Backlash! He had suffered a backlash! Shangqing Spiritual Master seemed to not have heard anything and suddenly turned to look in the direction of the Murong family.
Gu Yanfei's words from the garden yesterday rang in Murong Yong's ears. "Your grandmother is quite sick. I'm afraid she won't be able to survive the next winter snow…"
The snow was falling harder now, swirling like willow catkins.
The snowstorm roared and roared, from the south to the north of the city.
"Hiss!"
A talisman with black runes was torn from the window by a large, rough hand. The clear glass window was empty.
Murong Hao carefully held the talisman paper and turned to a rosewood armchair beside him with a smile.
"Meow, meow, meow!"
A five-month-old long-haired calico squatted on the armchair and meowed nonstop in a swaggering manner.
In the inner room, the four or five talismans that had been stuck to the window, the roof, and Old Madam Murong's body were all torn off.
"Kitty, this is for you to play with." Murong Hao personally handed over the last talisman in his hand respectfully and placed it in front of the cat along with the others.
Thin snowflakes drifted in through the window. Occasionally, a few landed on the cat.
The cat didn't care at all. It casually stretched out the tip of its claws and scratched the talisman.
"Crack, crack…"
"Crack, crack, crack…"
The cat liked the sound and meowed happily. It scratched even harder in excitement, the tips of its hooked claws leaving scratches on the charm.
Murong Hao and his wife, as well as the other two families, were in the inner room. They were looking at the calico cat on the armchair with burning eyes. They were pious, respectful, and fascinated. It was as if they were looking at their most precious thing or their faith.
When the cat was done playing, it began to tear at the talismans with its claws, one after another. The sound of tearing paper made the cat happier.
Its green cat eyes were sparkling, and its long tail swung briskly.
Every time the cat tore a talisman, the Murong family felt their hearts tremble and instinctively wanted to stop the cat.
"Little…"
However, when Murong Hao saw those beautiful cat eyes, his heart skipped a beat.
In his eyes and heart, there was only the cat in front of him.
The kitten was so cute that tearing a few talismans was nothing!
"Hiss—"
As everyone watched in fascination, the cat casually tore off the last talisman.
When the last talisman was completely half-torn, it was as if an invisible barrier had been slashed open from the window. The dim inner room lit up bit by bit.
Light gradually spread into the room from the window until it reached the dim bed canopy.
The cat leaped down from the armchair and jumped onto the edge of the bed in two or three leaps. It squatted elegantly and looked at Old Madam Murong on the bed.
"Meow!"
The cat meowed in its childish voice. The five-month-old kitten meow was soft and cute, making the Murong family's hearts melt.
As its voice fell, the light spread into the bed canopy.
Old Madam Murong's closed eyes trembled as she lay on the bed. Then, she slowly opened them. Her drooping and swollen eyelids were half-open.
The eyes embedded in the sockets were cloudy, lifeless, and without a hint of vitality.
"Meow!" the cat purred again, washing its face with its paws.
The moment Old Madam Murong opened her eyes, she saw the kitten squatting at the head of the bed.
From the other party's clear cat eyes, she seemed to see a beautiful girl.
"Thank you..."
Madam Murong's shriveled and unhappy lips moved. Her voice was very soft, almost a sigh.
Her lifeless eyes swayed with the escape of these two words. Her voice came with a slight ripple, sounding soft and sentimental.
She thanked it and its owner for giving her relief.
For the past three years, it had been like being in the 18th level of hell for her. Every moment had been suffering and torture.
A faint mist stained the corners of her wrinkled eyes.
Ever since she was over 60 years old, her body had been deteriorating. It wasn't until a cold three years ago that her body completely collapsed.
She had a fever for three days and three nights. The doctor said that she had tuberculosis. Although she was barely saved, she had been bedridden after that.
The more sick she was, the more groggy she felt.
Gradually, she slept more and woke up less.
In her half-conscious state, her three sons begged her to hold on for the sake of the Murong family.
Of course, she also thought that her grandson was in his prime and had a good future. He was about to bring glory to the Murong family. She didn't want to delay her grandson because of her.
She tried her best to hold on. Even if the world was weak for a day, even if she was almost exhausted, she still held on.
One day, she was on the verge of death again and felt that she wouldn't be able to survive...
It was also that day that a transcendent voice sounded in her ear. That voice seemed to have some unbelievable power that directly pierced her soul.
Her soul was bound by an invisible chain, making her feel suffocated. She felt cold all over and felt that her limbs and body were no longer under her control.
Days passed and she lay on the bed, unable to move.
Gradually, she could smell the slow rot of her body and feel her organs dying bit by bit. Even as someone wiped her down, she could feel that her flesh had long decayed.
She couldn't move or sleep. She could hear and feel everything that was happening around her, but there was nothing she could do.
One day, she suddenly understood—
She was long dead, but trapped in this ruined shell that was her body.
She had become a living dead..
Chapter 235: Relief
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At that time, Old Madam Murong didn't know that there was something even more terrifying waiting for her.
Her body first began to decay. Then, her soul was also eroded. Her soul was stained with black bit by bit, rotting like a corpse...
This pain that made her wish she was dead seemed to come from the depths of her soul.
She had seen the 'blackness" in her soul spread with her own eyes. A madness had invaded the depths of her soul. She felt that she wanted to kill someone and drink his blood, and she couldn't suppress her killing intent bit by bit.
Even more frightening was the fact that her mouth, her fingers, began to move occasionally, especially when she smelled blood. The sense of loss was even stronger.
She was afraid that one day she would completely lose her mind. She was afraid that when she woke up one day, she would slaughter all the living beings in the world.
She didn't want to hurt anyone.
Even if her soul dissipated, even if she would completely die in this world, even if she would never have the chance to see the Old Master in the netherworld.
She thought again of the girl from yesterday, the girl who seemed to have torn open the darkness and stood in front of her. A new light came into her rheumy eyes.
Now, she could finally be free!
Old Madam Murong's pupils quickly became dazed again.
With the last of her strength, she said to the cat again, "Thank you."
Good kitty! It crouched beside her, patted its paw on her head, and meowed.
The cat tilted its head and looked at her with its messy white beard twitching. Its expression was elegant, arrogant, and compassionate. It looked like it was saymg, 'Poor and weak human!'
In just a few breaths, Old Madam Murong's eyes became even more turbid. They were no longer focused and lifeless.
There was only a pool of cold, stagnant water.
She passed away with her eyes open.
Her lips were curled in a smile of pleasure.
The house was silent. A cold wind blew, as if it had taken away something invisible.
After she died, Old Madam Murong's corpse began to decay at an extremely fast speed. The dark purple livor mortis on the surface of her body spread rapidly, connecting into one before turning green. Her body also expanded...
An extremely unpleasant stench of corpses quickly filled the air, becoming stronger and stronger, making one want to vomit.
'It stinks!' The calico cat looked disgusted. 'It's smellier than dogsh*t!' It had always loved cleanliness and couldn't wait to run away.
After jumping off the bed, the cat specially rubbed its claws on Old Madam Murong's clothes and wiped the stench off its claws. Only then did it jump out of the window and run.
As soon as the calico cat left, the room became even quieter, leaving only the sound of everyone's breathing. After another three breaths, the Murong family woke up in a daze.
Second Madam Murong covered her nose with a handkerchief and frowned. "Why does it smell worse?
The others also frowned and covered their noses. When they looked around, they immediately noticed the torn talismans on the ground.
Everyone looked at each other. They couldn't help but think of the scene where they had torn the talisman from the window and the wall and presented it to the cat. Their expressions were quite subtle.
On the one hand, they felt that they didn't do such a stupid thing just now.
However, on the other hand, she felt that there was nothing wrong with them playing with the kitten. Her emotions swayed back and forth.
The stench of corpses in the air grew stronger. Murong Hao frowned and was the first to react. He rushed to the bed.
What he saw made him gasp. The others quickly gathered around the shelf bed.
Old Madam Murong was still rotting. Her abdomen, which was hidden under the brocade blanket, was bulging high. Her skin had turned black, her nails had fallen off, and her facial features were unrecognizable. Her skin was rotten and pus flowed, and one could vaguely see her white bones. Her eyeballs were about to fall...
The strong smell of decay assaulted their faces!
Madam Murong let out a hysterical scream that was so sharp that it almost overturned the roof.
She staggered backa step, then another, her face pale with fear.
Second Madam Murong also cried out in shock with a pale face. She hurriedly turned around and covered her mouth with a handkerchief, vomiting repeatedly.
The three sisters-in-law hurriedly hid in another corner of the inner room, all of them shocked.
'Mother," Second Master Murong called out to the corpse on the bed, his voice trembling..
Chapter 236: Relief
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Old Madam Murong would never answer or respond again.
She had been corrupted to such an extent that it was obvious that she was gone.
She was dead!
This thought clearly echoed in the minds of everyone present.
This was the truth, and it was like sharp blades stabbing into their chests. The blades pulled and twisted repeatedly.
After the initial fear, Murong Hao and the others were all stunned. Their expressions were complicated and filled with confusion. They didn't know what to do.
Murong Hao muttered, "That shouldn't be the case. The Spiritual Master clearly said that Mother won't die."
'Yes, the auspicious hour isn't over yet," Second Master Murong added, looking
at the pot beside him.
There was still an hour before the auspicious hour!
The three Murong brothers panicked. They stood in front of the shelf bed and looked at each other. They felt as if a mountain was pressing down on their hearts, and the strong stench of corpses suffocated them.
Fear, frustration, panic, and confusion mixed together.
The three brothers faced the old woman's body, not knowing what to do for a moment.
How did his mother die?!
Mother shouldn't have died!
"It's over, it's all over." Second Madam Murong sat down on the armchair by the window with one hand on the coffee table. Her pale lips trembled as she muttered, 'All my efforts over the years have been wasted..."
'Big Brother, did you hear wrongly?" Third Master Murong couldn't help but question Murong Hao. His expression was filled with anger and accusation.
Second Master Murong frowned and looked at Murong Hao with the same
emotions in his eyes.
Murong Hao was in a mess. For a moment, he wondered if he had remembered wrongly, but then he thought of Shangqing Spiritual Master personally accompanying his second son to the Marquis Mansion to welcome the bride.
'Of course I didn't hear wrongly!" Murong Hao flicked his sleeve and said angrily, "Are you blaming me?
Third Master Murong felt guilty at first, but then he said confidently, "Mother was fine yesterday. Last night, it was Big Brother and Sister-in-law who attended to Mother's illness. Mother wasn't well early in the morning..."
His voice became louder and louder, almost saying that it was Murong Hao who caused today's situation.
Sparks flew between the three brothers. At that moment, the curtain leading to the outer room was rudely lifted from the outside.
'Second Young Master! "
As the grannies outside exclaimed, Murong Yong, who was wearing a red groom's robe, strode into the inner room like a gust of wind. The grannies and old servants couldn't stop Murong Yong at all.
What greeted her was a nauseating stench, so strong and pungent.
Even the granny, who was outside the curtain, caught the terrible smell through the gap and almost fainted.
Murong Yong's heart was as cold as ice. He was very sure that this was the stench of corpses.
He saw the elders standing in front of the shelf bed at a glance. Suppressing the churning emotions in his heart, he walked over slowly, holding on to his last hope.
'Ah Yong."
Murong Hao and the others all saw Murong Yong. The three brothers subconsciously formed a human wall in front of the bed, trying to block his vision.
However, Murong Yong had a clear goal. Without hesitation, he pushed away Second Master Murong, who was closest to him, and walked to the shelf bed.
What came into view was a rotting female corpse.
Her hair had fallen off along with her scalp. Half of her gray eyeballs had fallen
from her eye sockets, and most of her lips had rotted. White bones and yellow teeth could be seen between the flesh that was flowing with pus...
There was no intact skin left on her corpse.
How was this a bed? It should be a coffin!
Murong Yong had been in the army for many years and was used to seeing corpses. He had once collected corpses for his comrades, personally decapitated the head of the enemy, and offered it to the higher-ups as a war trophy. He had also been to a village that had been massacred by bandits...
He had thought that nothing would startle him, but now he lost his composure and his expression changed. There was another hole in his heart, and the cold wind poured in and out of those holes.
He didn't close his eyes. Instead, he stared straight at this scene without blinking, as if he wanted to engrave it in his heart. His eyes turned red bit by bit.
It was a tragic and furious red.
"What's going 0117!" Murong Yong shouted. His well-defined facial features looked even sharper in the shadow of the bed canopy, and his eyes were filled with anger.
Murong Yong had just rushed back from the Gu family to see if his grandmother was dead or alive. Even though he had already guessed from Shangqing Spiritual Master's reaction that his grandmother was probably not in a good state, there was still a trace of hope in his heart.
He hoped that his grandmother was still alive and that his family hadn't committed such a mortal sin!
However, reality shredded the last hope in his heart.
The ugly, brutal truth lay bare before him.
A corpse that had just died couldn't have decayed to this extent in a short period of time.
How long had Grandma been dead?
One year, two years... or three years?!
Murong Yong's shout just now snapped the shocked Madam Murong back to her senses. Only then did she slowly realize that her second son had returned.
The moment Madam Murong saw Murong Yong, her originally dim eyes lit up again. She asked excitedly, "Where's the girl from the Gu family?"
'Quick, it's definitely not too late to rush joy now!" Murong Hao immediately added. His eyes were burning with an obsession that was almost crazy.
Shangqing Spiritual Master had extraordinary magical power. He would definitely be able to revive the Old Madam!
The others from the Murong family also had hope reignited as they all looked at Murong Yong.
This scene was no different from pouring a bucket of ice water on Murong Yong's head, extinguishing the last flame in his heart. The bone -chilling cold quickly spread to his limbs and bones.
A bitter smile appeared on Murong Yong's handsome face. It was extremely bitter, sorrowful, and slightly sinister..
Chapter 237: Retribution
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Madam Murong's heart skipped a beat and she immediately saw something.
She quickly took a few steps forward, pulled Murong Yong's sleeve, and asked,
'Ah Yong, did the Gu family break off the engagement?"
Before Murong Yong could answer, she was already cursing angrily. 'The Gu family actually didn't keep their promise. How dare they? When I went to see Madam Gu this morning, she clearly promised me well."
She wanted to reason with the Gu family, but thinking that time wasn't on her side, she changed the topic. "Wait, there's also Yu'er. Quick, get Yu'er to change into her wedding clothes. Get married to her quickly."
'Your grandmother will 'get better'!"
When Murong Hao heard this, his eyes lit up, as if he had grabbed onto his last straw.
At this moment, the Murong family seemed to ignore the corpse on the bed and the stench in the air.
Madness! Murong Yong looked around at his crazy-looking relatives. His eyes were unfathomably dark, and for the first time, a sense of powerlessness rose in his heart.
Second Master Murong and Third Master Murong also surrounded Murong Yong and grabbed his arms from both sides.
"It's fine for Ah Yong to try!"
'What if it works?"
'The auspicious hour is almost here..."
Everyone pulled at Murong Yong like crazy, their descriptions becoming more and more crazy.
Murong Yong's face was filled with anger.
Just as he was about to flare up, he saw strands of frost-like silver visible in Murong Hao's hair. More and more white hair appeared, and lines appeared on the skin of his forehead and the corners of his eyes.
Murong Yong's pupils constricted.
Murong Hao didn't notice it at all. He held Murong Yong's hand and begged,
'Ah Yong, can you take it that I'm begging you..."
His originally strong voice became old and hoarse. Even one of his front teeth fell out, and his voice began to leak.
The bloody front tooth rolled away.
' Murong Yong's eyes darkened, and he turned to look at the others. His two uncles had actually aged in just a few breaths.
The three of them seemed to have aged by 20 years. They had advanced from their prime to old age, and their bodies exuded an old aura.
A backlash. This was a backlash! Murong Yong deeply realized this.
The others finally noticed it. Second Madam Murong gasped and pointed at Second Master Murong in horror. She screamed, 'Old... Old Master, why are you..."
Before she could continue, her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
The three Murong brothers looked at each other and then at themselves. They were dumbfounded and terrified. They muttered, "How could this be? How
could this be?"
Panic-stricken screams rose and fell.
Looking at the chaotic scene in front of him, Murong Yong was expressionless. The corners of his eyes twitched.
Yes.
There would be a backlash if his family did such a thing.
Gu Yanfei's words in the Marquis Mansion echoed in his ears again. 'Resurrection from the dead is against Heaven's Will."
Death was death. There was no way to survive.
Murong Yong silently digested these words and looked at his grandmother on the bed again. His gaze fell on the unrecognizable face.
Her lips were rotten and shapeless, but the corners of her lips were visibly curled up.
From her decaying features, he could see a smile on her face. She had died smiling.
It was a relieved smile.
Murong Yong closed his eyes and exhaled a breath of white air between his thin lips. His heart had finally settled.
Ignoring his anxious family around him, he raised his voice decisively.
'Someone!"
'Prepare for the funeral!"
Murong Yong ignored the chaos behind him and went out alone. His usually steady footsteps seemed to be a little unsteady at this moment, and his body swayed slightly.
He knew very well that there was probably more waiting for their family!
After a while, the servants in the residence all knew that the old lady had passed away. The red lanterns and ribbons everywhere in the Murong residence had been removed and white mourning flags hung up. The servants had also wrapped white cloth around their arms and waists, indicating that there was a funeral in the residence.
Therefore, when Shangqing Spiritual Master caught up with them all the way to the Murong residence, he saw mourning banners and white silk hanging up.
Countless white paper money floated up from the door like white butterflies flappmg their wings and intertwining with the falling snow..
Chapter 238: Retribution
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
'Sigh!"
Shangqing Spiritual Master's servant held the reins of the horse tightly. The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Murong residence. Shangqing Spiritual Master quickly jumped out of the carriage and rushed into the residence.
Shangqing Spiritual Master's face was covered in blood. Not only was blood seeping from his mouth and nose, but even the corners of his eyes were bleeding. It was like two rows of dark red blood tears, and he looked very terrifying.
When the servants of the Murong family saw him enter with a face full of blood, they were first shocked and thought that they had seen a ghost. Then, from the yellow robe on his body and the servant behind him, they recognized that it was Shangqing Spiritual Master and were all stunned.
How did Shangqing Spiritual Master become like this?!
The servants didn't dare to stop him and hurriedly ran to report his arrival.
Shangqing Spiritual Master rushed towards Old Madam Murong's courtyard with familiarity, walking faster and faster.
Along the way, white silk and white lanterns could be seen everywhere, making the mansion look cold and sinister.
Shangqing Spiritual Master's heart instantly sank to the bottom, but he still felt indignant and unwilling to accept the truth.
'No, no..." he muttered a little wildly. "I have to flush good fortune and rush
It was unknown if he was saying this for himself or for others.
His head and body were stained with snowflakes. There was also a piece of white paper money stuck to his hair and shoulders. It was pasted with the blood on his face and he looked miserable.
Murong Yong, who had come out from the other side of the door, met the hurried Shangqing Spiritual Master. Through the snow, he looked at the dazed old priest in front of him from afar.
Murong Yong had already changed out of his red groom's robe and put on a plain white straight robe. There was a white silk sash around his waist that echoed the white streamers and white silk around him.
He still didn't hold an umbrella, and stopped about 100 feet away from
Shangqing. His gaze was cold but firm as he spat out three words coldly.
Murong Yong wasn't stupid and had a lot of experience.
After leaving his grandmother's house, he stood in the courtyard for a while, letting the cold wind water him and wash away the frost and snow. He had thought about a lot of things. By now, he had calmed down completely.
Looking at Shangqing Spiritual Master's bleeding face, Murong Yong's heart was as clear as a mirror.
Just as the Second Lady of the Gu family had said, this so-called "borrowing luck" was probably more for the sake of Shangqing Spiritual Master himself.
It was useless to say anything else. It was also his own greed.
Murong Yong's lips curled into an almost undetectable sneer as he thought to himself self-deprecatingly. At the same time, he raised his hand and instructed the guard, "Throw him out!"
What?! The guards and servants of the Murong family looked at each other in disbelief.
They all recognized the Shangqing Spiritual Master as a guest of honor in the residence. The old masters were all respectful to him...
Murong Yong raised his eyebrows, his expression filled with impatience and gloom. He ordered again, 'Throw him out."
His voice rose another three degrees, and that cold and ruthless murderous aura spewed out in an instant.
The guards no longer hesitated. They surged forward aggressively and rudely used their scabbards to beat people and chase them away.
'Spiritual Master, be careful!" His servant hurriedly went to protect Shangqing Spiritual Master and took a few hits for him.
Painful cries, punches, kicks, and collisions... echoed in the snow.
Shangqing Spiritual Master and the servant were only two people. How could they defeat so many guards of the Murong family? Two fists were no match for four hands. The two of them were surrounded and chased towards the door like
stray dogs...
As they pushed each other, the wooden hairpin on Shangqing Spiritual Master's bun was knocked askew. Half of his hair was messy, and there were several bruises on his forehead and the corner of his mouth. Even his sleeve had been accidentally torn off.
Murong Yong didn't care about what happened to Shangqing Spiritual Master at all. He walked past him and left the door in a hurry.
He first went to the Ministry of War and presented a memorial representing the death of his grandmother. He said that his grandmother had passed away today and his family was going to observe mourning for his grandmother for three years.
Then, he made a trip to the Divine Arms Battalion and explained the situation to the higher-ups. The higher-ups more or less felt that it was a pity. To the generals, Murong Yong was just the right age and was at the peak of youth's energy. He dared to kill and risk his life. In the next three years, he would have had a chance to rise and make some achievements.
After running to several places in a row, he finally went to the Dingyuan
Marquis Household to personally report the funeral. On the Marquis Household's side, Gu Yuan came forward to receive Murong Yong.
It wasn't even three o'clock in the morning. It was less than four hours since Murong Yong left this place at noon.
In just half a day, Murong Yong had the illusion that he had experienced decades. It was like a dream.
The young man in his 20s was no longer as arrogant and sharp as before. He looked a little tired. 'Next, our family will have to observe mourning for three years. I've discussed it with my parents. We can't delay Eldest Miss Gu, and I hope she can get married soon."
He tried to keep his voice steady. His words were dignified and polite, giving both families face.
After returning the marriage contract, Murong Yong cupped his hands and turned to leave.
Gu Yuan returned the marriage contract that the Murong family had returned to Gu Yunzhen and went to Yuheng Garden to tell Gu Yanfei about it.
'Murong Yong is a little smarter this time."
Gu Yuan sat down on a round chair by the window. Unlike Gu Yanfei's lazy and relaxed sitting posture, he was always upright, whether standing or sitting.
Murong Yong took the initiative to return the marriage contract and even took all the responsibility for the Murong family. He expressed that the Murong family wanted to observe mourning and didn't want to delay Gu Yunzhen, so they broke off the engagement.
In this way, Gu Yunzhen's reputation wouldn't be damaged. She could find another marriage.
Gu Yanfei was sitting in front of the desk in the small study, flipping through an idle book she had found from an unknown bookstore.
She rubbed her chin with one hand and blinked thoughtfully.
In her previous life, as a noble concubine, Liu Muyu had replaced Gu Yunzhen to help Old Madam Murong rush joy. Shangqing Spiritual Master's spell of 'borrowing luck to rush joy" should have succeeded.
As for Old Madam Murong, her ending wouldn't be so good. At most, two years...
W
I see..."
Gu Yanfei muttered to herself. She remembered that two years later, there was a sudden plague in the capital, and many people bled to death.
Later, it was Gu Yunrongwho turned the tide...
Chapter 239: Blood Kin
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
During that period of time in her previous life, Gu Yanfei almost never left the house. She actually didn't know much about the capital.
She only knew that first, the eldest grandson of the Marquis Mansion suddenly died with blood flowing from his mouth and nose. Then, it was the young master of the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, followed by the two girls from the Taichang Temple...
First the children, then even the adults were infected. More and more people died, from noble courtiers to commoners.
In the beginning, only three or four people died a day. Later, almost a hundred people died every day. The officials reported that it was a plague and told everyone to try not to go out to avoid contagion.
During that period, the entire capital was shrouded in the fear of death, afraid that it would be their turn next.
At that time, the government chased the infected people out of the city and circled a village to be guarded by soldiers, leaving them to fend for themselves.
It was Kang Wang's consort, Gu Yunrong, who disregarded her safety and went to the plague village to eat and live with those patients. She also turned the tide and extinguished the plague that might kill tens of thousands of people.
Countless citizens in the capital were grateful for her kindness and spontaneously ran to the entrance of Prince Kang's Manor to kowtow to her. There was a sea of people, and many families even offered her longevity tablets.
These things were pieced together by Gu Yanfei in her previous life from the idle chat of the maidservants and old women in the Marquis Mansion.
Turning the tide? Gu Yanfei's lips curled into a faint smile as her gaze landed on the dense snow outside the window.
There was almost no spiritual energy in this small world. It was impossible for
Old Madam Murong to be refined.
It was fine if mortals died. When a corpse rotted, it would produce corpse poison. The longer it lasted, the more poisonous the corpse poison in the corpse would be.
Unlike ordinary dead people, Old Madam Murong's corpse poison was even stronger.
It was summer and there were many flies and mosquitoes.
Children were weak and were the easiest to be infected by corpse poison. The poison also acted up the fastest. Therefore, it was the children who died in the beginning. After being infected by the corpse poison, the adults' reaction would be slower than the children by a day or two. The fastest would be a day, and the slowest would be three to four days. Those who were infected by the corpse poison would die one after another...
'Eh?" Gu Yanfei stopped stroking her chin and blinked.
Countless spots of light instantly appeared between the dense snowflakes outside, like a dazzling galaxy pouring down from the night sky, or like a treasure sprinkled by a god in the clouds...
Thousands of light spots surged toward her from all directions, illuminating the courtyard with brilliance.
It was a merit.
Gu Yanfei's eyes lit up like stars, like a cat that had stolen a fish. She was smug and satisfied.
She had avoided a disaster that was about to lead to the deaths of thousands. This was the merit the heavens had given her.
Hmm.
Although Heaven's Will of this small world wasn't very likable, it was still quite generous.
The thousands of firefly-like light spots quickly gathered beside Gu Yanfei and entered her body, nourishing her internal organs and clearing her meridians, making her feel brand new.
Gu Yanfei blinked and immediately felt the gains this time.
Her eyes saw better. She could even clearly see every petal of a certain red plum in the snow.
Merit was indeed more useful than any divine pill or miracle medicine!
'Why?" Gu Yuan looked out of the window in confusion, thinking that something was happening in the courtyard. 'What are you looking at?" Gu Yanfei was still savoring the changes in her body when she came back to her senses. She smiled and said, "I'm looking at the cat.' Gu Yuan didn't see any cats in the courtyard at all.
'Meow!"
In the next moment, she heard a familiar meow from the other side of the green brick wall.
A ball of fur jumped onto the wall with a whoosh. It was light and stable. The calico cat that had been out for a long time was finally willing to return.
It looked even more energetic than before it went out. Its long fur was fluffier and more glossy, as if it had suddenly grown bigger.
She'd earned merit this time, as had the cat.
However, the cat didn't seem to be in a good mood. It lowered its head and sniffed its long fur. Its round cat face wrinkled in disgust.
It subconsciously stuck out its tongue to lick its fur, but it stopped as if it had thought of something, leaving its pink tongue half-exposed.
It... it was already dirty and smelly!
A layer of snow had accumulated on the wall and the ground. The cat leaped into the snow and rolled, covered in snow.
Gu Yanfei looked at the "frosted cat" and couldn't help but smile happily..
Chapter 240: Blood Kin
Thank you readers!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Seeing that Gu Yanfei was very happy to see the cat, Gu Yuan smiled too, his eyes gentle.
It was good that raising such a kitten could make his sister smile!
Gu Yuan joked, 'Sister, your cat is really naughty.
Although Gu Yanfei also thought that her cat was very naughty, she felt that Qing Guang was a little innocent today.
The Murong family was indeed quite smelly!
Thinking of this, Gu Yanfei couldn't help but sigh. "How pitiful!"
'The dead are forced to stay in the world. What's consumed is the soul... and the merit of the world."
Old Madam Murong's soul was already damaged. In her next life, she would definitely reincarnate into the path of animals. At the very least, she would need a few reincarnations to repair her soul bit by bit and be reborn as a human.
There was a price for everything in this world.
It was the same for the Murong family and Shangqing Spiritual Master.
Gu Yuan could vaguely hear that Gu Yanfei was saying that Old Madam Murong was pitiful, but he didn't comment.
'Qing Guang, you're back. I've been looking for you for half a day!" Juan Bi jogged over from a certain direction and happily picked up the cat in the snow. "Why do you smell?" she exclaimed.
'Qing Guang, let me wash you. I'll use a smoke cage to dry your fur too. You'll smell good again!"
Juan Bi hugged the cat gently and spoke ingratiatingly, but she couldn't get any response from the cat.
The word "smelly" had already shut the cat up.
The calico cat closed its eyes and lay like a corpse in Juan Bi's arms.
The man and the cat left quickly, leaving only the large and small footprints left in the snow by the man and the cat.
The courtyard was empty agam, except for the snow.
Gu Yanfei looked in the direction of the Murong residence for a while. Then, she turned to look in the direction of the ancestral hall and said, "Once the soul is damaged, it has to be nourished for a long time."
After a pause, Gu Yanfei's calm tone was tainted with a hint of sadness. 'So is our biological grandmother. "
'IAS a substitute, her soul should have dissipated, but now, she's lucky to have preserved a trace of her soul.'
'But only a little."
Substitute...
Even though Gu Yuan had some guesses, he still found it unbelievable when he heard Gu Yanfei's words.
Their biological grandmother was actually Madam Guts substitute!
All these years since his father passed away instantly flashed through his mind.
Gu Yuan's eyes were like raging waves.
He took a deep breath and gripped the arm of the round chair tightly with one hand. He composed himself and asked clearly, "Sister, what's a 'substitute'?"
Gu Yanfei's words in the ancestral hall were mostly for Madam Gu, the person involved. The person involved knew very well, but outsiders were confused.
Gu Yuan could barely guess.
'Substitutes and rushing joy are both ways of borrowing luck from the Taoist community." Gu Yanfei's indifferent voice was emotionless. "If there are people who are in trouble, you can find a blood relative who is compatible with you and be their substitute. A life for a life."
'Our biological grandmother is Madam's substitute and her blood relative.'
Hearing this, Gu Yuan's eyes darkened and he gradually calmed down. He guessed, "Sister, our grandmother's surname is also Qi?"
Gu Yanfei nodded affirmatively and gently fiddled with the compass she had placed on the table.
There was silence in the house for a moment. Large flakes of snow were blown in through the window by the bleak wind.
Gu Yanfei lowered her eyes and watched the snowflakes on the table turn into sparkling water droplets. She recalled the past Gu Yunzhen had told her about her grandfather in the ancestral hall last night. After her father was born, her grandfather fell seriously ill. After that, his relationship with Madam Gu became bad.
Presumably, that was when her and her brother's biological grandmother passed away.
What exactly happened 30 years ago?!
Gu Yanfei's heart tightened slightly, and her heart skipped a beat. She couldn't help but smile bitterly to herself.
She had clearly been in the Bright Spirit Realm for 200 years and had seen enough hatred, sorrow, joy, and separation. She had experienced all kinds of tragic, bizarre, and terrifying stories, but she still couldn't calm down in the face of things related to her.
After a moment of silence, Gu Yanfei calmed down and continued, "The 'Substitute Talisman' is drawn with the blood essence of a substitute. Logically speaking, it shouldn't be able to leave its owner. Now, it's placed in Grandpa's memorial tablet and worshiped by the descendants of the Gu family."
'Grandpa probably did this."
More than 30 years had passed, and everything had changed. Some were dead, some were gone, and many details were probably only known by Madam.
However, it wasn't impossible to find clues about what had happened back then.
'You'll find out eventually." Gu Yuan raised his hand and rubbed the top of Gu Yanfei's soft head. His lips curled into a smile, and his gentle smile melted the frost between his eyebrows. "I'm here!"
You're my sister, what are you worried about!
Gu Yanfei also smiled with pride. She nodded seriously.
'Yes, I have a brother!"
With my brother around, I'm not alone.
The siblings looked at each other and smiled, their smiles just as warm.
Gu Yuan wasn't casually comforting Gu Yanfei. He did have some ideas. After all, he knew far more about the Gu family's past than Gu Yanfei. His great- grandfather and grandfather should have been in the West Region 37 to 38 years ago. His grandfather was also married in the West Region, so if he wanted more clues, he had to send someone to the West Region.
As for the Qi family, if their biological grandmother was really Madam's blood relative, then did no one in the Qi family know of her existence?
Not necessarily.
Since a person had existed before, how could he be easily erased7!
Gu Yanfei tilted her head with a smile and said, "It's good for Grandma's soul to be nourished in the ancestral hall first. When there's a chance..."
Halfway through her sentence, she stopped abruptly. Gu Yanfei's pupils constricted and widened slightly.
Her deep gaze landed on Gu Yuan's heart.
Gu Yuan raised his eyebrows.
'Big Brother, are you injured?" Gu Yanfei pointed at Gu Yuan's left chest.
Gu Yuan thought about it and said casually, "I was swept by Shangqing's horsetail whisk just now. It was like a cat scratching me. I'm fine."
Gu Yanfei narrowed her eyes bit by bit.
This should be... a mark..