Imperial Treasure

Chapter 484 - 329: Crazing Other’s Magic

The Ancient Tree, originally lush with branches and leaves, scattered countless shimmering leafy sparks after the fierce battle between the two. As the morning sun penetrated, these leaves twinkled like thin jade slices, swirling and drifting through the air, tracing gentle arcs and marks.

Next to the Ancient Tree, a young woman still leaned against the railing, her posture unchanged, but her eyes and lips slightly forlorn, silently watching below.

In the courtyard, a simply dressed monk blended into the tranquility, his hands pressed together in prayer.

Below, Dongfang Bubai stood with her hands behind her back, letting the green sparks drift about, which did not diminish her enchanting crimson.

And on the stone wall, the Heart Sutra was clear, as Sui Yi stood casually with a sword in hand.

Zhong Buli had already straightened her back, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, her lips curling into a slight sneer mixed with derision and a trace of desolation.

"So this is your hidden affliction, madness like a demon, a heart that kills... yet it’s the demon of others, the heart of others that you slay!"

Having said this, she turned and left without looking back.

Her crimson garments were redder than blood, yet lonelier than the autumn leaves of the crimson maple.

The onlookers, either those in the know or the wise, quickly sensed something and all looked in one direction.

The slowest to react was Sui Yi... She pondered for a moment, tilting her head to look at Fan Yin and saw his palms together holding prayer beads, his eyes clear and pure, as untainted as when she had seen him dying under a tree in Lin Zhong.

He had brought her here, to etch the Heart Sutra together, year after year, month after month, repeatedly...

He had his inner demons, and she had hers.

Perhaps it was a mutual understanding.

When did it start...

He was a person detached from worldly concerns, with a mind sharper than most, wisdom in his heart, one who should have lived a carefree and pure life.

Just like this Clear Pond Temple.

Why then was he punished to face the wall in this small courtyard for years?

It was her fault.

She lowered her eyes, took a step forward, and her sword swept up!

Sword Qi sprinkled!

Swish, swish, swish!

The dominating Sword Qi fluttered... stone dust and debris flew about, mingling with the green sparks, slowly falling.

After a while, Sui Yi sheathed her sword, took a leap, and climbed the Ancient Tree, tapped the sword sheath with the tip of her toe, hooked it back into the sheath, and laid the sword horizontally in front of the young woman.

"Thank you."

"No need," the young woman said as she reached out to take the sword, her fingers were very slender, almost translucent.

Perhaps frail.

Sui Yi gave her a glance, nodded slightly, then leapt down from the building, her sleeves fluttering... and walked away.

Dongfang Bubai, indolent and casual, glanced briefly at the stone wall and left as well.

The previously murderous courtyard quieted down.

Fan Yin closed his eyes, not looking at the stone wall, but simply lowered his hands, turned around, entered the house, and shut the door.

"Brother, Master Fan Yin he..."

"It’s better to channel than to block, as the Abbot once said. He must understand now, but..." the middle-aged monk turned his head toward the wall, seeing the completely erased ninety-nine grids of the Heart Sutra... not leaving even a trace.

He sighed.

"She won’t come again," the young woman handed the sword to the middle-aged woman behind her.

"Even with numerous inner demons, she won’t return."

What a determined and ruthless person, leaving no trace.

But Zhong Buli is the same, she will not come again.

One, defeated inferior to another, two, someone else in her heart, three...

"So proud."

————————

The visitors outside the pavilion, originally displeased by the obstruction and unable to enter, suddenly saw the door open, and a young woman walked out first, catching them off guard, followed by another similarly young but otherworldly person.

These two, one after the other, seemed not together yet together...

The visitors and tourists couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

Until they disappeared from view.

"You’ll miss all her affairs, it seems you’ve seen something here even more captivating, or someone," Dongfang Bubai noticed Jiang Chenyu leaning against the corner pillar poised in front, appearing to look at the inscriptions on the walls.

"If you were so clever, you wouldn’t have been sealed in a coffin for many years," Jiang Chenyu seemed to have quite a disdain for Dongfang Bubai.

It’s strange that these two should act this way.

"It seems I was right," Dongfang Bubai curled her lips with a knowing smile, didn’t wait for Jiang Chenyu’s response, and walked forward, calling out to Miss Sui, "Miss Sui, give me a ride~~ the one behind moves as slow as a turtle, inexplicably stopping and going..."

Crazy, waiting for traffic lights to open fines!

The disliked Jiang Chenyu was not annoyed, only looking towards the shadow on one side of the pavilion, gazing for a long while.

"Indeed, you were right... saw someone... I never thought I would see," she turned her face, her expression calm, yet her eyes somewhat vacant.

Departure.

A figure emerged from the shadows, leaned against the wall, and chuckled softly—the leaves on the tree rustling with the sound.

The air seemed to grow colder.

————————

At the foot of the mountain, Sui Yi saw his car parked next to an elegantly made vehicle of an unknown brand. Though not conspicuous, it was clearly expensive since it caught the discerning eye of Chenyu, who had refined tastes and high standards.

Sui Yi glanced at the license plate and got into the car, waiting for Dongfang Bubai to join him.

The person said, "There was someone there just now... You didn’t even notice."

Sui Yi stepped on the accelerator, "Very strong, can’t catch up, wait for the next time... They’ll slip up eventually."

The car drove off.

————————

The funeral of Old Mr. Ye was inevitably to be held in Ye Family Village. The villagers, upon receiving the news transmitted by Sui Yi, were quite shocked, but quickly accepted it. After all, Old Mr. Ye was of considerable age and had been seriously ill many years ago. The fact that she had managed to live steadily all these years was already a miracle; but death is beyond human control.

"When heaven claims your life, no one can retain it."

These were the words of some Ye Family Village elders, who were also arranging the funeral service, and some planned to come over to retrieve the old lady’s remains...

According to the customs of Sui Yi’s generation, cremation would have been appropriate, but the older generation did not have this awareness, and as the funeral was a sensitive matter, the usually assertive Sui Yi did not insist and let the villagers take care of it...

Ye Family Village had its customs, which she did not understand.

So, that day after returning to Yujiang Mountain, she had sent Old Mr. Ye’s remains back to Ye Family Village, and Xiao Ran, along with some well-meaning neighbors, wanted to go to Ye Family Village to pay their respects...

Though it was well-intentioned, Sui Yi politely declined.

Ye Family Village was not a place for outsiders.

Being frightened was secondary; the main issue was that the villagers of Ye Family Village were wary of strangers.

Xiao Ran and the others, though helpless, could only meet briefly at Sui Yi’s villa for consolation...

As people watched Sui Yi and the others drive away, someone mentioned that Sui Yi did not look at all like someone whose grandmother had died.

Too calm, eerily calm.

The person merely mentioned it in passing, but Xiao Ranjun glanced at him and said, "Some grief does not need to be seen only through tears."

Xiao Ran also shook his head, "She indeed isn’t grieving."

People turned to look at Xiao Ran, and Xiao Ranjun frowned, "Aunt..."

"Old Mr. Ye was terminally ill, these past years Sui Yi had to earn money alone for her treatment and recovery. But given this young lady’s character, I’m afraid she had prepared herself mentally for Old Mr. Ye’s departure a long time ago... Moreover, her temperament isn’t like most people’s... We shouldn’t judge her by our own thoughts and standards... After all, if we were in her shoes, we might not have done any better."

Xiao Ran, well-regarded for her good character and deep family background, was also a professor of psychology with professional authority, thus her words naturally carried weight, and the others nodded upon hearing them.

Xiao Ranjun looked at the road, suddenly turned around...but Xiao Ran grabbed his sleeve, "Ranjun?"

"Hmm?"

"Thinking about going to Ye Family Village?"

"...Well.. we are neighbours, it would seem rude not to go," said Xiao Ranjun.

"I’m her neighbor, not you."

"... I also live here, so I count too~ Aunt, and besides, Sui Yi is worth connecting with, and she’s also my classmate. I’m also doing this for the family service,"

"Heh~" Xiao Ran chuckled, "Just don’t go, go back to school and study. As for serving the family... we already have someone on it,"

"Who?" Xiao Ranjun suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

Xiao Ran shook her head, her nephew although quite intelligent and capable, far better than those of other families, was still too green. Should he compete with his younger uncle, he was bound to be bullied numerous times...

The main issue was that it seemed he wouldn’t be able to restrain that girl, Sui Yi.

Yet, she couldn’t say it outright, as it would sound biased towards her own brother, which wouldn’t look good.

"You’ll find out yourself... after all, you’re young, it’s good to gain more experience and insight, and auntie advises you, that girl is quite extraordinary..."

After speaking, Xiao Ran was about to leave when she saw her brother’s car driving up, with her father in it.

Xiao Ran and Xiao Ranjun were both surprised.

Xiao Ran smiled and asked, "What brings you two here today?"

Head of the Xiao Family glanced at the tightly closed gate of Sui Yi’s Family, his brow furrowed, "We’ll talk back at home."

Something secretive seemed to be going on, as if something big had happened.

Back at home.

"Ranjun, go upstairs," said the head of the Xiao Family, but the old gentleman waved his hand, "No need, he’s not a child anymore, and he should know about this matter."

It seemed very serious.

Xiao Ran and her nephew sat down.

"The Yun Family has been destroyed," said the old gentleman.

Upon hearing this, both Xiao Ran and Xiao Ranjun’s expressions changed.

They were momentarily at a loss for words.

"All dead?"

"No, just Yun Xilai and some core members have disappeared... The others are all fine, just that none of them know what happened that night... Everyone passed out and woke up to find that the useful people of the Yun Family were almost all gone. Our people sneaked in to check, and there was not a trace left, obviously well-handled."

"Could it be that those people left on their own accord?" Xiao Ran said then contradicted herself, "That’s impossible, leaving the younger generation behind is like digging their own grave, even if it was a trick like the cicada shedding its shell, they wouldn’t go this far, they would have taken the younger ones with them." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote and comment at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com).