Chapter 247: Chapter 247: You’ve Become Even More Rebellious These Days
Marquis Yangling Mansion’s main courtyard study.
Old Master Cui accidentally knocked over the teacup with an unsteady hand.
He was clearly in a panic, but as the head of the family, he could only feign composure.
Dowager Cui, covering her mouth, wept, "In the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes; who knows how the father and son are faring."
"Crying for what? The sons of the Cui family will surely return unscathed."
Dowager Cui rebuked, "Easy for you to say! It’s always so easy for you to say!"
"Three years ago, Cui Yang was seriously injured, barely making it through. Do you know how many scars your son has on his body over these years? He’s not a god!"
"And what about Bai? He’s only just started his own family!"
She was uncontrollably agitated: "Clearly, having one general in our Cui family who doesn’t fear death is enough!"
While daughter-in-law Cui Xuan seldom met with Cui Yang due to his frequent absences, now their eldest grandson, Cui Bai, also followed in his father’s footsteps. Outsiders all say that the sons of the Cui family are skilled in battle, boasting about their glory, but only the family knows the suffering involved.
Every time the father and son went on campaigns, she would worry all night long!
Old Master Cui frowned and scolded: "What kind of talk is that? Such women’s views."
It was at this moment that Cui Yun strode in from outside. He said.
"Grandfather, I’m going to Chi City."
Cui Xuan, who had been silent and absent-minded until now, suddenly stood up and clung tightly to Cui Yun.
"You can’t go!"
"Mama."
"I said you can’t go!"
Cui Xuan deviated from her usual gentleness: "If you wish to give me peace, stay obediently in Shengjing and don’t go anywhere."
Her words were laced with tears: "These past few days, I’ve been plagued by nightmares."
Cui Yun pressed his lips tightly: "Little General Jin went, Xie Xun also went, why can’t I? "
Old Master Cui: "Hold your tongue!"
He stood up and went to look at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall, turning his back to everyone.
"The sky isn’t falling yet! With Cui Yang and Cui Bai’s capabilities, if outsiders don’t know, how could you not? Reinforcements have already been dispatched, and the cities closest to Shan City have long sent troops. They will surely return safely. Let’s not let our mansion fall into disarray first, especially we must keep it from Bai’s pregnant wife. She must not be worried into distress due to her pregnancy."
He reassured: "This urgent message sent over eight hundred miles must have been made to sound serious so that the palace would decide quickly and not dare delay the journey."
After the others left with heavy or light footsteps, the straight back of Old Master Cui bent slightly. He went to pour tea, but his hand shook uncontrollably, spilling the teacup once again.
Old Master Cui closed his eyes heavily.
"Indeed, one general is enough."
If they survive the ordeal, it’s fortunate if the people return safe. If not, the Cui family would only have Weizhen left as the sole seedling.
There must be no more accidents.
When Old Master Cui reopened his eyes, he stared straight out of the window at the departing back of the young man.
Emotions slowly faded from his face. He staggered to his seat, utterly dejected. His parched lips moved slightly, and in a barely audible voice, he said.
"Is this a natural disaster? Or a man-made calamity?"
"This time, I fear great misfortune is looming over my Cui family."
Cui Yun returned to the Sui Courtyard, his eyes deep with heaviness. It was only when he saw Xue Tuan that he slightly relaxed.
The cat, Xue Tuan, with its body all wrapped up and only its eyes moving about, had most of its bandages undone, revealing several wounds that were shaven bare for treatment.
It didn’t want to look in the mirror at all, as it had become so ugly.
Yet it still could not move. Seeing Cui Yun, it could only make threatening sounds from its throat.
Cui Yun tapped the cat’s forehead, "Who are you angry with?"
Xue Tuan: "Meow."
Cui Yun: "You’ve grown more rebellious these past few days."
Xue Tuan: ...So why don’t you just despise me then!
Hurry up!!!
Cui Yun lowered his eyelids: "Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you."
You’re truly hopeless!!!
Xue Tuan numbly looked at the canopy above, where Cui Yun had personally hung a silk-wrapped small ball.
Swinging gently.
After watching for several rounds, Xue Tuan’s eyelids grew heavier, and it fell asleep.
Cui Yun bent down, preparing to cover it with a small quilt. The moment he touched it, the bracelet on his wrist became abnormally hot.
In recent days, every time he got close to Xue Tuan, it was like this.
A few more days passed, and there was still no news from Chi City.
Meanwhile, outside the courtyard, there was a commotion. Cui Yun stepped out to see the old woman who guarded the gate talking with Ji Qing.
"This was given to this old servant by a street beggar, who left this piece of paper and said only to give it to the Second Young Master before disappearing without a trace."
Ji Qing took the crumpled note, sent away the old woman, and presented it to Cui Yun.
Leaning against the door, Cui Yun glanced at it carelessly, then suddenly his gaze fixated. He turned around, picked up Xue Tuan, and ordered with a pursed lip: "Prepare the carriage, we’re going out."
In the dilapidated cabin, the Third Elder had been waiting for a long time. Just when he thought Cui Yun would not come, a steady step approached from outside.
The next instant, a fierce knife glare flashed, and a sharp dagger fell straight at his feet, burying three parts into the ground. Skimming past the boot, had it been even slightly off, it would have certainly...
"The Second Young Master comes to see me with only one attendant, are you not afraid of being deceived?"
Cui Yun looked at him coldly.
His attire was that of a person from the Miao Clan. He quickly deduced the man’s identity based on his features.
"As luck would have it, I was aware that this place is a secret stronghold of the Southern Border Miao Clan in Shengjing."
The sparsely populated and vast Southern Border had lost its former glory over the years; those from the Miao Clan versed in witchcraft dwindled to less than a hundred.
Under such circumstances, he would obviously not act recklessly. Everything had been arranged well in advance.
If he were to suffer an accident, probably not even ten people would remain. This was something Xuan Chen could certainly achieve.
"What is this about being poisoned with a Gu? Speak!"
"The Second Young Master can rest assured, since you’re here, I will not harm you any further," said the Third Elder.
"To be reassured by the very person who laid the Gu? How ridiculous."
The Third Elder fell to his knees with a thud: "I did not wish for this either, they forced my hand. My old wife and I had our only son at an old age."
"Over the years, I had no choice but to follow orders."
The Miao Clan was once powerful and prosperous because of their skill in witchcraft. However, about a decade ago, their numbers started to decline sharply. They were all controlled by those corrupted by selfish interests.
For fortune, for luck, for a bright future, for scheming against others.
With the Gu King, he could sense whether his son was still alive.
It was for this reason that he repeatedly did their bidding.
Until last night.
He said in despair: "My son is dead!"
"Next, it would likely be my turn."
He knew too much and thus became a liability. Similarly, those people had also used him nearly to his limit.
Cui Yun: "I’m not here to listen to your nonsense."
The Third Elder scrutinized Cui Yun carefully, finally resting his eyes on the bracelet: "Fortunately, the Gu Worm poses no threat to the Second Young Master."
"I’m asking about it."
Cui Yun’s voice was cool and detached as he coldly said: "If anything happens to Xue Tuan, I will ensure that the entire Miao Clan is buried with it."
Upon hearing this, the Third Elder’s thoughts turned active: "I can undo the Gu, but the Second Young Master must also agree to a condition, that you ensure my safe departure from Shengjing."
To discuss conditions with him at this juncture.
How laughable.
Seeing that Cui Yun was unmoved, the Third Elder also became a bit anxious.
If something happened to him, what would become of his clansmen?
"The Second Young Master doesn’t know, they are hidden deep within. Buhuo is the very thing they have developed, and I’ve never even seen the so-called Sovereign they speak of."
"This kind of Gu can backlash against those closest to you, and once successful, within a month, your life will surely end."
Suppressing his hatred, he revealed: "I’m not afraid to let you know. The Second Prince in the palace is completely imbecilic due to being controlled by witchcraft and Gu Worms."