Hidden Shadow – CH 025

Chapter Twenty-Five: Rampage

According to Mei Ruyan’s thinking, Mei Rujian was the eldest son of the main branch, an illegitimate son. Although he was her elder brother, there was still a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children. If she were polite and offered a way out, Mei Rujian should not make things difficult for her.

Unexpectedly, Mei Rujian laughed sarcastically. “Oh, so here comes someone knowledgeable and reasonable. Should I be grateful to tears?”

“Elder Mei!” Mei Ruhan’s face darkened. “If there’s anything, let’s talk about it privately. Why do we have to pick a time when all the brothers and sisters are here?”

She lowered her voice, threatening, “Do not forget, your mother is still a member of the main branch.”

Mei Rujian retorted angrily, “What other abilities do you have?!”

Mei Ruhan smiled gently. “It’s not about how many abilities one has but how effective they are.”

Mei Ruyan could not help but glance at Mei Ruhan again. So many things in the Mei family had surprised her. This seemingly weak and easily bullied Mei Ruhan was actually just like Mei Yanran—a ruthless character!

“Will it work?” Mei Rujian smirked. “Since I dared to come, I am not afraid of your threats!”

He glanced around and found An Jiu eating happily, oblivious to everyone else. His smile froze, and he angrily knocked her bowl away.

The crash drew everyone’s attention.

An Jiu bent down to pick up the broken pieces of porcelain and placed them on the table. As she placed the last piece, she suddenly grabbed Mei Rujian’s belt and shoved most of his body out the window.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, not only surprised by An Jiu’s ruthlessness but also astonished that a fairly burly young man was held down so firmly by her, barely able to struggle.

“I am telling you now, I threw Mo Sigui into the lake,” An Jiu said, grabbing his hair and forcing him to look up. “Do you see the river below? Taking a bath from here would be much more comfortable.”

“You would not dare!” Mei Rujian roared.

An Jiu pushed him out with all her might, leaving only his calf inside the room.

Mei Rujian hung face down, most of his body supported only by his shins. Although he used his internal energy to stabilize himself, those nearby could still hear the cracking sound of his broken shinbones.

“If you push me down, you will not live either!” Mei Rujian cried out, sweating profusely from the pain.

An Jiu grinned. “Do not worry about that. How about I jump down with you? It will be fun.” Everyone stared at her as if she were crazy.

Mei Ruhan was stunned. Facing An Jiu, she could clearly see the gleam in An Jiu’s eyes as she spoke, as if she genuinely found it amusing and was not just bluffing Mei Rujian.

“Sister, pull him up quickly! Big Brother was just joking!” Mei Ruyan cried anxiously.

At first, everyone was enjoying the spectacle, but as things progressed, they realized An Jiu was probably serious. Someone quietly approached from behind, intending to knock An Jiu unconscious and rescue Mei Rujian.

An Jiu picked up a plate from the table and threw it without looking back. At the same time, she saw someone run out of the front door.

“Just kidding,” An Jiu chuckled. “I am just kidding. Little Sister, come help me pull him up. I do not trust anyone else.”

Mei Ruyan looked at An Jiu with suspicion, trying to discern the truth from her expression.

“My arm is getting tired,” An Jiu said, releasing one hand.

“Help me, Fifteenth Young Lady, help me!” Mei Rujian cried out, his voice already trembling with tears.

Mei Ruyan did not dare to think any further. She rushed forward, grabbed Mei Rujian, and pulled him back with all her might. She was the only one there who did not know martial arts; it would not be easy to pull him up, and dragging him would inevitably cause him considerable pain.

An Jiu leaned against the window, making sarcastic remarks, “You spineless lackeys who fawn over the second branch of the family, do not even dream of standing up straight.”

Only after Mei Ruyan finally dragged the man back did An Jiu poke him with her chopsticks, earnestly admonishing him, “My martial arts skills are not great. If the elders come, I will only be punished. But one thing is certain: I do not care about this life. Anyone who’s not afraid of death, come and try to see if I am telling the truth.”

Mei Jiu’s soul was firmly suppressed, completely unable to move. In her anxiety, she even managed to affect her body, tears unconsciously welling up in her eyes.

A mountain breeze blew in, and An Jiu felt a coolness on her face. She paused slightly, then raised her hand to wipe it.

Everyone in the room saw this madwoman cry after almost killing someone, and they were all instantly bewildered by the wind.

This time, An Jiu did not give up controlling Mei Jiu’s body; instead, she suppressed her relentlessly.

Everything in the clan school unsettled An Jiu. A thought surfaced in her mind, compelling her to risk being labeled a madwoman and verify it.

Why did the Mei family kill Mei Yanran and her daughter to silence them? If they had a compelling reason to kill them, why did they suddenly change their minds? Why did the Mei family’s descendants die so young? Why were there so many strange rules?

Everything An Jiu gleaned about this world from Mei Jiu’s mind was completely different from what she perceived in this family, making them an anomaly in the Song Dynasty.

She believed the Mei family harbored too many secrets. Mei Yanran’s escape with Mei Jiu was undoubtedly a potential leak of those secrets. Severe punishment for traitors was necessary to deter others, hence the need to eliminate them. The subsequent change of heart was related to her sudden appearance and the killing of two martial arts masters. She speculated this because this incident had been brought up repeatedly, and when Mei Tingyuan mentioned it today, she clearly implied it was a way to demonstrate her abilities!

This family…… did it make a living by killing?

Perhaps these children did not know their future fate, but the beliefs instilled in them from childhood destined them to be different from other children!

An Jiu could choose to slowly verify the results, but she suddenly could not control her anger. She was eager to prove that this was a chance to choose again, not a cruel twist of fate!

A desperate ghost living in darkness suddenly saw the blue sky and white clouds through the window. She thought she could approach the light and clarity; all the feelings that had disappeared were slowly returning, allowing a flower of hope to bloom in her heart, only to be strangled in an instant.

What a hateful, cruel trick!

This was the first time she had lost control since becoming a sniper.

“Why is it so lively?” A young man in plain clothes stood at the door, his black hair flowing like a waterfall, a serene smile on his jade-like face.

The sound of chairs moving came from inside the room, and everyone stood up:

“Uncle.”

Mei Zhengjing walked in gracefully, his movements elegant yet swift.

He leaned closer to examine Mei Rujian’s pale face and clicked his tongue. “Oh dear, that’s quite a serious injury. Quickly, take him away for treatment.”

Then, his eyes gleaming, he looked at An Jiu and asked with concern, “Have you eaten enough?”

“Uncle!” Mei Tingyuan said, “She broke the clan rules!”

“Which one?” Mei Zhengjing turned around, looking at her sternly. “Tell me. If she really broke it, I will punish her severely!”

“The clan rules forbid private fights!” Mei Tingyuan said.

“Oh.” Mei Zhengjing’s face fell, completely unconvinced. “Private fights are forbidden, but murder is not. I know the whole story; this is attempted murder.”

Mei Tingyuan was furious. “What story! You cannot confuse right and wrong like that!”

“Mei Rujian fought back? They fought each other? Fourteen hit him?” Mei Zhengjing bombarded her with questions, finally concluding before she could speak, “So this is not a private fight.”

Mei Tingyuan tried to argue, but Mei Zhengjing said, “Go argue with your father. If you say another word to me, I will punish you for disrespecting your elders!”