Hidden Shadow – CH 091

Chapter Ninety-One: Yearning

Mei Ruyan’s face flushed, but she said resentfully, “A cold-hearted person.”

Mei Jiu thought for a while but still felt too embarrassed to say it aloud, so she said, “Master Mo’s personality is not easy to get along with.”

Mei Ruyan possessed a keen and perceptive mind. Even though Mei Jiu’s words were tactful, she understood the underlying meaning, but she did not take it seriously. The Mei family was different from other families. She was destined never to marry out, nor could she stay with Master Mo forever, but she never sought eternity.

Even so, she and Master Mo might never cross paths again. “I understand what you mean; I know what I am doing.”

“That’s good. You’ve always been better at handling things than I am,” Mei Jiu smiled.

“Sister, look!” Mei Ruyan stopped and pointed down the mountain.

The fragrance of plum blossoms was faint, and the snow was white. The entire plum blossom area seemed like a sea of ​​lights. Even the uninhabited houses were decorated with red lanterns. The light and plum blossoms reflected each other, creating a breathtakingly beautiful painting.

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“A subtle fragrance drifts in the twilight.” Mei Jiu took a deep breath, a faint smile appearing in her eyes.

Enjoying the scenery on a quiet night before the New Year was the happiest she had been in a while.

“My Young Lady, the gentlemen are over there. Shall we go and greet them?” Yao-Ye reminded her.

Mei Jiu and Mei Ruyan looked up, following Yao-Ye’s gaze, and saw Headmaster Zhao of the clan school and several teachers admiring the scenery of the mansion in the pavilion ahead.

Both of them, without prior arrangement, fixed their gaze on Master Mo. He wore a moon-white robe with a blue fox fur coat over it, and in the soft yellow light of the lanterns, he looked like an immortal.

Mei Jiu sighed inwardly. No wonder Mei Ruyan had fallen for such a man, spending so much time with him.

The two stepped forward and bowed. “Greetings, Headmaster; greetings, gentlemen.” Headmaster Zhao squinted his narrow fox eyes, seemingly not yet recognizing them. “No need for formalities.”

“Fourteenth Young Lady,” Lu Qingming chuckled, looking at Mei Jiu. He had always been curious how a girl whose martial arts style resembled dancing had survived the trials of the Konghe Army.

Mei Jiu curtsied. “Sir.”

Lu Qingming had not intended to pry, but seeing her still so frail, he could not resist. “How’s your set of martial arts techniques?”

“I practice whenever I have free time, but…” Mei Jiu knew she had not made any progress because her so-called “free time” was practically nonexistent.

An Jiu did not even bother to comment, but Mei Jiu was quick to memorize the movements. Her martial arts technique was fluid, but even the most fluid form was just a more fluid dance.

Only then did Headmaster Zhao realize their identities, his eyes crinkling into a smile. “So it is Fourteenth Young Lady and Fifteenth Young Lady.”

“Indeed.” Mei Ruyan had been wanting to ask, “Elder Qi’s medical skills are unparalleled; he should be able to cure Headmaster’s eyes. Why did you not ask him to treat you?”

Lu Qingming could not wait to expose his past. “Haha, Headmaster Zhao made a mistake with his eyes when he was young. Now he almost wants to go blind; what’s the point of treatment?”

Seeing Lu Qingming’s teasing tone, Mei Ruyan knew his implication: what mistake could his eyes possibly make? It was all about not looking at what’s improper.

Headmaster Zhao’s foxy eyes still held a half-smile. “Ladies, enjoy the scenery. We will be leaving now.”

“Take care, Headmaster. Take care, gentlemen,” Mei Jiu and Mei Ruyan said.

Mei Ruyan stared at their retreating figures disappearing into the twilight, her gaze lingering for a long time.

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Even Mei Jiu could see the deep infatuation Mei Ruyan held for Master Mo. Could she truly control such deep affection?

“The teachers at the clan school were all influential figures in the past,” Yao-Ye said.

Mei Ruyan turned around, her gaze sweeping over Dan-Yue as she spoke. It was unclear whether she was asking Yao-Ye or Dan-Yue, “Do you know their background?”

Yao-Ye knew that Dan-Yue most likely knew as well, but no matter how she questioned her about Master Mo, Dan-Yue never uttered a word. This meant either she genuinely did not know or she was disloyal to her.

Yao-Ye’s heart skipped a beat. She had not expected that such a simple question would allow the other woman to find such a weakness. No wonder Lady Yan had so solemnly warned her to be wary of Mei Ruyan before she left.

“This is a matter of the martial world. My parents are martial artists, so naturally I’ve heard of their reputations,” Yao-Ye reluctantly explained, continuing, “Headmaster Zhao is the infamous ‘Jade-Faced Fox,’ Master Qingming is known as the ‘Carefree Monk,’ and Master Mo is ‘Sound Killer.'”

An Jiu scoffed, “Jade-Faced Fox.” Headmaster Zhao’s dark face was indeed far from the description of “jade-faced.”

Mei Jiu, on the other hand, did not seem to mind. Even fair skin could be tanned. “Why is Master Qingming called a monk? And what does ‘Sound Killer’ mean?”

Seeing their interest, Yao-Ye explained, “Master Qingming used to be a monk at the Dragon Guard Temple, but after violating the precepts and being expelled, he returned to secular life. ‘Sound Killer’ refers to killing with sound. Master Mo was formerly the top assassin at the Piaomiao Mountain mansion.”

“What kind of place is the Piaomiao Mountain mansion?” Mei Ruyan asked.

An Jiu had heard Mo Sigui mention the Piaomiao Mountain mansion; it was an assassin organization that specialized in killing.

“Piaomiao Mansion is a place that specializes in killing. A scroll called ‘Piaomiao Records’ circulates outside, recording the ranking of the assassins in the mansion. Employers can choose the assassins they trust to work for them,” Yao-Ye said bluntly. “Piaomiao Mansion basically has no entry requirements; as long as the employer can afford the price, they can work. Therefore, the higher the ranking, the more times they are hired. Master Mo has been ranked first in Piaomiao Mansion for seven or eight years, with countless lives on his hands, which is why he is so cold and aloof.”

“He has quite a temper, not like a cold-blooded assassin,” Mei Ruyan said.

Mei Jiu silently thought, An Jiu also had quite a temper and truly treated human life as worthless.

Yao-Ye secretly shook her head. She had already said this much, but Mei Ruyan was still stubborn; it was clear she could not be reasoned with. Yao-Ye was worried. If it were not for the fear that Mei Ruyan might do something against the clan rules and implicate her young lady, she would not have bothered to waste so much breath.

Mei Jiu sighed, “Master Mo is not a good man.” Silence fell immediately. The mountain wind whipped up the snow, creating an awkward atmosphere.

“It’s getting cold; shall we go back?” Mei Ruyan forced a smile.

“Then let’s go back.” Mei Jiu’s heart, which had finally relaxed, tightened again. Mei Ruyan was someone who could control her emotions, unlike Mei Jiu, whose emotions were always written on her face. Now, she could not even control her expression, showing how deeply she had fallen for Master Mo.

Mei Jiu had not considered that Mei Ruyan’s feelings would affect her. She simply felt that a man like Master Mo was not suitable for entrusting her life to.

Back at Yuwei Residence, Mei Jiu washed up and crawled into the warm bed, shivering comfortably.

The past few days of travel had left her exhausted, and she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Having drifted off to sleep, she mumbled, “An Jiu, have you ever been in love with someone?”