Chapter Fifty-Five: Questions

Gan Ying was already in tears by now. He pleaded, “Father, your health is in such poor condition. Why don’t we postpone my sister’s wedding for a few days? Once you’ve recovered, it won’t be too late for my brother-in-law to join our family.”

But Gansen’s breath faltered as he insisted, “No, absolutely not. This is my last wish. Now that you can no longer wed Nalan Xiner, I cannot let your sister suffer such misfortune as well.”

Gan Ying replied bitterly, “But if you can’t preside over the wedding tomorrow, Father, how should I explain it to my sister?”

Gansen smiled and said, “Yu’er must have seen me wounded today. I imagine she hasn’t come because she thinks my injuries aren’t serious, and perhaps she fears your reproach. Especially now, with her wedding approaching, she must be even more troubled. I don’t blame her. If she asks, tell her that only after she is married and settled will I be truly happy. It will be a blessing for me—perhaps I’ll even be able to stand up tomorrow out of sheer joy.” He let out a dry laugh at the end.

He then patted Gan Ying’s shoulder and said, “Son, you should go rest now. I am feeling rather weary.”

Gan Ying bowed deeply and was about to leave, when Gansen, in a heartfelt tone, added, “Ying’er, it is time you grew up. Tomorrow, you will preside over your sister’s wedding. The future of the Gan Family Fortress depends on you. I will watch your coming of age from here tomorrow.”

Gan Ying was moved. “Father…”

But Gansen waved his hand firmly, “No more. If I am able to get up tomorrow, I’ll count it as a blessing. Come see me after your sister’s wedding.”

Gan Ying nodded gloomily. At that moment, he suddenly felt the burden on his shoulders grow heavier, yet he straightened his back and walked out with renewed resolve.

Lying on the rooftop, Mo Bai withdrew all of his presence into himself, his eyes flashing with a glimmer of light before he slipped away from the inner residence without a sound.

Miss Gan leaned on her desk, her face filled with confusion. She didn’t know if she had gambled correctly by stealing the jade pendant. But this was the only, and perhaps the best, opportunity in the vicinity of Gan Family Fortress. She could not wait any longer, and so she waited in agony.

With a creak, the door opened. “Miss Gan, don’t be afraid.” A man with a gentle smile was already standing behind her.

Gan Yu’s heart skipped a beat, tinged with a trace of delight. She turned toward the door, but before she could take a few steps, the man waved his hand and the door closed softly once more.

Gan Yu’s confidence grew. This man was indeed formidable. “Are you the great hero Mo?” she asked.

Mo Bai smiled, “No need for formality, Miss Gan. Just call me Mo Bai.”

Gan Yu, ever courteous, replied, “You are a few years my senior. May I call you Brother Mo?”

Mo Bai neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, he asked, “Miss Gan, don’t you find it strange that I would come here so late at night? Or was it within your expectations?”

Gan Yu blushed. “It was unexpected, but also my last gamble.”

Mo Bai spoke with a deeper meaning, “Then this gamble will depend on just how sincere you truly are.”

With great solemnity, Gan Yu declared, “If Brother Mo has any questions, please ask them. I will not hide anything.”

Mo Bai silently praised her cleverness. She had sought his help but had not revealed her purpose, waiting for him to ask first. Mo Bai was not one to fuss over convention. For the sake of Xiaohua, what did it matter if things were a little troublesome? “May I ask, Miss Gan, how old are you?” His first question was boldly direct.

Gan Yu was slightly stunned, but answered quickly, “I am exactly twenty years old this year.”

Mo Bai pressed on, “Was your mother as graceful and lovely as you?”

Gan Yu could not follow Mo Bai’s train of thought, but she replied, “My mother was indeed very beautiful, but, sadly, she passed away when I was very young.”

Mo Bai nodded. “How old were you when she died? Did she say anything special to you before she passed?”

Only then did Gan Yu realize Mo Bai had his own suspicions and was finally getting to the heart of the matter. She answered sorrowfully, “Mother said my elder brother’s character was flawed, that even if one day he became a spiritual cultivator, it would be of no use.”

Mo Bai forced a bitter smile. “Miss Gan, there’s no need for secrecy at this point. That is not what matters.”

Gan Yu was startled. Looking at Mo Bai’s earnest gaze, she finally opened her heart. “She said Father had changed.”

Mo Bai touched the scar at the end of his brow and asked his final question, “Do you know where your husband’s family is from?”

Gan Yu was taken aback. Mo Bai’s way of thinking was hard to follow. “He’s from Deng Family Village, thirty li from Guihai City—fifteen li north of our fortress. His name is Deng Tai…” Before she could finish, her vision blurred. Mo Bai had vanished.

Night fell once more. Even at midnight, no moon shone. Mo Bai, having plucked a stalk of wild grass from somewhere, idly held it between his lips as he sat in a concealed spot at the edge of Deng Family Village, waiting for someone’s arrival.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before a shadowy figure drew near. Mo Bai shook his head slightly—compared to the Flying Demon, one of the three Demon Lords, this one’s lightness skill was far inferior.

He watched as the figure leapt into a house, then emerged silently, this time carrying a black sack over his shoulder. Mo Bai watched him disappear into the distance and murmured, “As long as you return, I’ll catch you tomorrow. Xiaohua, this is all I can do for you. As for whether you will find your own happiness in the future, that will be up to your own efforts.”

Mo Bai gazed up at the sky. Suddenly, his spiritual power rippled as three figures swept past him. He was startled—such advanced cultivators passing by at night, could they be his adversary’s reinforcements?

He heard a woman say, “Seventh Senior Sister, shall we wait here for Eldest Sister, or head to Guihai City to investigate?”

Another clear voice replied, “Of course we go to Guihai City. That old villain Guihai dared to throw down the Lingjue Challenge—clearly a provocation against our Yihua Sect. He has only cultivated for a few years and already wants to compete with us? I say we challenge his residence tonight and show him what we’re made of.”

Then a cool, frosty voice spoke. “We are already close to Guihai City. Let’s rest a moment, then proceed.”

Mo Bai’s heart trembled. That cold tone, like the sound of raindrops in the Han Pool, brought back countless memories—so familiar, he could not help but want to look up and see the woman’s face.

But in a few moments, the figures vanished. Mo Bai, for reasons unknown, felt a tinge of loss. He had seen many women, but never before felt such emotions. Even he did not understand why.

At that moment, the clouds suddenly parted, and bright moonlight poured down. The ethereal glow was so pure and clear that Mo Bai found himself entranced.

In the Yuntian Sect, a woman in her thirties unknowingly left her chamber and gazed up at the moon, unaware of what the distant man was doing at that very moment.

With a sudden swish, a white-clad figure stopped abruptly not far from Guihai City, catching her two companions off guard. One asked, “Seventh Sister, what’s wrong? Guihai City is just ahead. Aren’t we going in?”

The woman in white looked up at the moonlit sky and, to their surprise, sat down quietly. The two were momentarily confused, but then heard her speak with rare warmth, “I want to savor tonight’s moonlight, and do nothing else.”

The two were surprised, but quickly understood. Their Master’s beloved Seventh Sister seldom indulged in worldly pleasures. How could they not keep her company? With a soft thud, the woman in white took out three porcelain bottles from her jade pouch, handed two to her companions, sipped her own, and continued to gaze at the luminous moon.

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