14. The Shared Past 1
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Meanwhile, the two madams sat in a companionable silence.
Zhang Furen perfectly mixed the aromatic tea, and then filled two teacups with it.
"These tea leaves come from beyond Xing Dalu, and it's said to clear one's mind of strain and worry." She said, handing a cup to Xu Furen.
Xu Furen accepted the cup and downed the tea in an unladylike manner, and it scalded her throat. "Aargh!" She exclaimed, and slammed the cup down. "I don't need to clear my mind of worry! I need a solution!"
Zhang Furen just smiled at her, then handed her some water. "'If the old remains, the new has no room'. I offered you a solution years ago, but you didn't take it."
"Ehehe, Sister, your solution was a bit..." Xu Furen drifted off.
Zhang Furen had plainly advised her to eliminate Xu Weiyan.
Xu Furen did not like her adopted daughter, but still felt uneasy about going that far, and she quickly drank the water, then refilled her tea cup.
But this time she sipped the tea with proper manners and dropped the cup, admiring her friend's vast and well decorated bedroom.
When it came to wealth, the Zhang family surpassed the Xu family.
The Xu family had led the Yueyan Sect and its accompanying regions and provinces for generations, so it sat comfortably within wealth.
But the Zhang family was a monster in trade businesses across several regions, and had backing from a major family in the Huofeng Sect.
Also, for the first time in a long while, the Zhang family's heir was the best disciple in the sect, so their prominence was only growing.
All these, in addition to the fact that Zhang Cheng was rather tall and handsome, made him a prime catch for most families with daughters!
And Madam Xu had succeeded in 'catching him' for her own daughter.
Only to have him snatched away by Xu Weiyan!
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Under the Pine tree, Bailong recognized the voice before he turned.
'Xu Weiyan!'
The breeze chose that moment to blow a few colourful petals around them, which added to the beauty of the scene.
But Bailong waved the petals away, determined not to share such a scenic beauty with Xu Weiyan of all people.
He still remembered saving her life, only for his own life to be ended by her!
But surprisingly, what irked him the most was her stunt the previous night, when she had snuck into his room and then rendered him immobile!
In his thousands of years living, no one had dared do such a thing!
The sheer disrespect!
'Why is this improper woman here?!' He complained.
Just a while ago, he had lain on Luoyin's floor, assuming he had died again, but then something had tickled his nose.
The wind had blown in a few petals and one had landed right on his nose, making him sneeze himself awake.
But before he could rejoice over being alive, an insistent feeling settled in his chest, making him rise and get dressed.
He bundled his hair up, covered his face with a face veil (Luoyin had several of those), and then hurried out.
And now here he was.
Bailong turned. "Why are you here again?!" He folded his arms. "Tch! What am I even asking? According to last night's events, you can come and go as you please!"
Weiyan recognized his own voice, and she had the good grace to flush. "2nd Young Master Zhang?!"
She realized she was still bowed, so she quickly straightened. "Greetings, 2nd Young Master Zhang. Father, Mother and I came to thank you for your help yesterday."
But Bailong barely heard a word.
When Xu Weiyan raised her head, her eyes met his, and he froze.
There was a pain in his chest and he suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
'What's this?!' He wondered, feeling panicked.
Something similar happened the previous evening at the Yue City gates, but it was far worse now, and he suspected it had something to do with Luoyin.
~"Find out her past with 'Zhang Luoyin' before saying anything!"~
~"...he shares a complex past with Xu Weiyan. He would never disrespect her!"~
It was as if Bailong could hear Immortal Kai Zhen's admonitions, and he wondered why he hadn't seen any of Luoyin's memories with Xu Weiyan so far.
He struggled to remain calm, because he might be in danger if Xu Weiyan discovered he wasn't the real Luoyin, so he placed a hand behind his back and held it in a seal, redirecting what little qi he could to get his body under control.
Once his body relaxed, a warm feeling rushed through him, and all the colours in the garden were suddenly more vibrant.
He could now breathe, but every breath drawn was accompanied by the heightened scent of fragrant flowers.
His eyes roamed Xu Weiyan's face, as if he could see every bit of it in crisp detail, and something about the way the wind teased her long flowing hair and mild purple robes was making it hard for him to swallow.
"W- Wei wei." A soft voice escaped his lips, and he could feel tears forming in his eyes.
"Ahem!" He quickly turned his back to Weiyan, as more of Zhang Luoyin's memories blissfully distracted him.
Memories from when Luoyin was just four.
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A four year old Luoyin ran into one of the Zhang courtyards, and after making sure the coast was clear, he ran and knelt by a small pond.
It was a bleak autumn.
The usually vibrant colours had faded, and the Yueyan mountain was dying from an impossible drought.
But being a child, Luoyin was oblivious to all that, as he played with the little Koi fishes in the pond.
"I'm already excellent!" He boasted to the fishes. "Teacher Ye even praised me as a natural master of Pen and Sword! Why is he trying to make me study all da--!"
"Zhang Luoyin!"
Luoyin froze as he heard his mother's annoyed voice.
"Ah! I think Teacher Ye went to complain to Ma!" He whispered to the fishes. "I'll come back and play another time!"
He stood up and snuck away, mere seconds before a stunningly beautiful, but irate lady arrived at the pond.
She was Duan Xiu, Zhang Luoyin's mother.
"Where is this boy?!"
Luoyin grinned mischievously, watching his mother from behind a pillar. He snuck away and ran, but then quickly realized he hadn't paid attention to where he was going, and had somehow wound up at his fathers study.
'Father has a guest.' He realised, noting that the door was slightly ajar.
Inside, he could see his father and stepmother meeting a guest.
Back then his stepmother, the current 'Zhang Furen', was referred to as 'Concubine Huang', and the title of 'Furen' had belonged to Duan Xiu, Luoyin's mother, since she was the Legal Wife.
Lord Zhang and Concubine Huang were seated across a dignified looking man, who cradled something in his arms, and Luoyin was about to sneak past, when he noticed what was in the man's arms.
'A baby!' He realized with glee, and he snuck even closer, wondering whether he had acquired a little brother or sister!
"Zhang Guo, I've come to meet you like this." The stranger was saying. "I know it's a difficult request, since she's an orphan, but I'm telling you, this child is blessed!
"The Sect has been experiencing bad harvests, and our profit is not even worth mentioning. The cities on and around the mountain have it worse, so we cannot even tax them. Your family has aided in these trying times, but even our talents are dwindling, and we no longer receive any guest disciples.
"The cities were close to a revolt, and this led my father to an early death... It's been a worrisome two years since then, as the new Sect Leader, I've endlessly prayed to the Night Deity.
"I suddenly found Yanyan in the Yan river... Isn't she an answer to those prayers?!" He lightly booped the infant's nose, and beamed with delight as her tiny hand closed over his finger. "Oh my!"
"Xu Feng, I understand why you believe she's a blessing." Lord Zhang said, shaking his head at the spectacle. "After you found her, the vegetation has indeed begun to improve, and the sect has more than ten talented new disciples."
"Umh umh!" Lord Xu nodded, still distracted by the baby.
Lord Zhang shook his head again. "I'm also surprised to hear that the sect has received three major trade deals from the Yuan, Luo and Xian Sects, and it all coincides with finding this child.
"But that's all it might be! Coincidence! No one would pick a discarded plum by the roadside... You must question why this child was abandoned in the first place! I don't understand why you're so attached, and why you brought this difficult request to my door..."
"Yes." Concubine Huang spoke for the first time. There was a dazzling smile on her face, but her brows dipped ever-so-slightly. "Sect Leader Xu, she can just live as your cherished daughter. A member of the Xu family. Why get our A-Cheng involved?"
Lord Xu sighed. His friend's words were almost too cruel for him to swallow, and he nearly stood up and left.
But for the child's sake he had to try.
He gave a small cough. "Ahem, Old friend, I'll tell the truth. It was simply love at first sight... It was as if my spirit was drawn to this child, once I held her in my arms!"
He sighed. "I also want to let her live a carefree life as my second daughter, but I can't, because the Clan Elders won't let her be!
"They are endlessly difficult, and have attempted to kidnap her three times already...!"
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