WJ Chapter 34

Deer’s Call (1)

The deer called softly, softly, grazing on the wild apples.

I had esteemed guests, and we played the zither and blew the sheng.

——

Under the Protector’s inquiring gaze, Yun Changliu finally set down his chopsticks, leaned his head close to Guan Wujue’s ear, and said with a slight frown, “Gu Jinxi.”

Guan Wujue’s hands moved swiftly—his right hand stuffed the chopsticks back to the Sect Leader, while his left picked up more food and placed it in Yun Changliu’s bowl… The movements were so smooth that one couldn’t help but marvel that someone accustomed to wielding twin swords was indeed different.

“What about Gu Jinxi?”

Unexpectedly, Yun Changliu threw down his chopsticks and said with displeasure, “You know full well, why must you always make this lord speak?”

And it wasn’t just this time—a few days ago on the road, when they discovered the abnormally large number of jianghu people, Guan Wujue had used this same tone to question him…

This patient, guiding manner always made Sect Leader Yun feel like a one or two-year-old child just learning to speak, with his family’s Protector playing the role of a gentle, patient nursemaid——

“This subordinate begs forgiveness,” Protector Guan smiled rather innocently, “Wujue simply feels that you need to practice speaking more…”

Yun Changliu: “……” So he really was teaching him to speak?

It was only twenty-some years of good upbringing that allowed the Sect Leader to suppress the impulse to curse “get lost.”

Feeling frustrated for a moment, Yun Changliu pressed his joined fingers against the rim of the bowl, channeled his internal energy, and the bowl silently “slid” before Guan Wujue. “This lord is satisfied. The Protector should finish it himself.”

The banquet continued. After that earlier commotion, no one now dared approach their area. Fortunately for this reason, the Zhuyin Sect Leader and his Protector could banter and joke back and forth without any external interference.

…Of course, given these two individuals’ temperaments, ordinary “external interference” couldn’t disturb them anyway.

“One should not speak while eating,” Guan Wujue shook his head, using his chopsticks to lightly tap the bowl with a crisp sound. He said seriously, “Sect Leader, we should have one person speaking while the other eats.”

Faced with such… righteously worded advice, Yun Changliu remained silent.

After a long moment, he reached out to pull the bowl back in front of himself and began to chew slowly and methodically.

Guan Wujue immediately wanted to laugh, thinking to himself how obedient the Sect Leader was, doing whatever he was told. But he didn’t dare actually laugh aloud in front of the Sect Leader, so he just lowered his head and held it in, his shoulders shaking slightly with small tremors.

It wasn’t until Yun Changliu gave him a cold look that he cleared his throat and finally stopped fooling around and spoke properly.

“Do you feel that Gu Jinxi’s attacking with the sword formation without any explanation was impulsive and completely unlike the smooth operator rumored in jianghu?”

Guan Wujue raised his eyes again to confirm no one was around before continuing softly, “Earlier, Lin Wuyue nearly made a move—did you notice?”

Yun Changliu made an ambiguous sound of acknowledgment. During the sword formation, his entire attention had been on Guan Wujue, so he actually hadn’t noticed what Lin Wuyue was doing… However, he had noticed his family Protector’s fleeting change in that moment, which meant he had indirectly detected the threat from Old Hall Master Lin.

“At that time, Lin Wuyue wanted to attack you. Gu Jinxi was closest but remained indifferent. In the end, it was Yu Kun who intervened. His hostility toward us is abnormally intense… What do you think is the reason?”

Yun Changliu bit the tip of his chopsticks, pondered briefly, then said, “Young Master Lin?”

…Logically speaking, Gu Jinxi had no grudge or enmity with the Zhuyin Sect. The only reason he could target them so specifically, aside from their appearance causing him to lose face, was one other connection when thinking it through.

——That being the Young Master Duanmu Lin who had been abducted by the Zhuyin Sect and missing for many years, who recent news said had appeared at a Zhuyin Sect branch hall.

Attacking without giving them time to explain, not caring even if it made Wanci Manor look bad in front of everyone… Such extreme actions very likely meant Gu Jinxi harbored selfish motives regarding the matter of Duanmu Lin.

Guan Wujue said somewhat helplessly, “Good Sect Leader, can’t you learn to speak more clearly, plainly, and completely?”

Yun Changliu acted as if he hadn’t heard, saying indifferently, “It seems the Duanmu family is also quite chaotic.”

The waters ran deep in these great aristocratic families. The power struggles and scheming were beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

Fangs were always hidden in darkness, just as reefs were always hidden beneath calm seas. Once caught in their tangled web of interests, one would only be strangled tighter and tighter by the threads until suffocating.

…

When Duanmu Nanting came before them in person, the banquet was just about to disperse.

…By this time, those two distinguished personages from the Zhuyin Sect had thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

“Wujue, enough.” Yun Changliu’s elegant fingers rested on the wine pot, pressing it firmly against the table. “Don’t drink anymore. Drinking clouds judgment.”

“Just a few sips of wine—can Wujue really get drunk?” Beside him, Guan Wujue held the wine cup in his hand, smiling as he reached with his other hand to grab the wine pot.

Yun Changliu immediately stopped him, speaking quite sternly, “You don’t get drunk, but you make trouble when you drink too much.”

“How could that be?” On the surface, Protector Guan looked shocked, but his hand suddenly changed tactics, reaching from the Sect Leader’s side to grab the wine pot.

Yun Changliu’s expression remained calm as he swiftly changed his palm into a blade, his wrist slicing diagonally to block Guan Wujue’s movement, saying mildly, “You do. Right now you’re already more unrestrained than usual.”

The Protector seemed suddenly interested, relentlessly changing techniques again. Yun Changliu blocked him once more. The two of them each used one hand, each employing about twenty percent of their strength, exchanging several moves on the table, creating sharp palm winds and surging internal energy.

Duanmu Nanting had been waiting and watching from afar for quite a while, originally planning to approach and ask Yun Changliu a few questions at an appropriate moment. But seeing the two of them playing with increasing enthusiasm, he simply couldn’t find an opportunity to interrupt…

Under these circumstances, he really couldn’t worry about propriety anymore and could only steel himself to approach. “Sect Leader Yun…”

Yun Changliu and Guan Wujue turned their heads simultaneously, their fingers still in an interlocked position. Duanmu Nanting coughed uncomfortably, “Sect Leader Yun, Protector Guan… This humble one has a matter to request. Might we speak aside for a moment?”

Yun Changliu glanced at Guan Wujue. Their refusal of the seat of honor had actually been a strategic retreat, waiting for Duanmu Nanting to approach them proactively.

The Sect Leader then stood up, nodding, “Please.”

Duanmu Nanting breathed a sigh of relief and hastily led the two away from the banquet through an inconspicuous route.

The sounds of clinking cups and glasses gradually faded as the three walked straight toward the depths of Fusheng Huan’s peach garden.

The three walked along a small path in the peach garden for a while, stepping on the crisscrossing shadows of tree branches underfoot, with the surroundings growing increasingly quiet.

As they walked, Yun Changliu and Guan Wujue couldn’t help but exchange glances again.

This was no longer speaking aside for “a moment”—they’d already walked nearly a hundred steps. Where was Duanmu Nanting leading them?

After another while, a delicate pavilion appeared among the tree shadows, with exquisite flying eaves that looked rather charming, seemingly a woman’s residence.

Duanmu Nanting stepped forward and raised his hand to knock on the door, tapping the copper ring twice.

The one who opened the door was a young maidservant from inside. She curtsied to the Manor Lord and the two guests in turn. “Greetings to the Family Head and the two guests. The young lady has been awaiting the Family Head and the honored guests for quite some time…”

Before she finished speaking, a fragrant scent wafted over.

The two, Yun and Guan, looked inside simultaneously, only to see a woman of exceptional beauty suddenly emerge from behind a blue and white painted screen. She lacked the elegant bearing of a noble lady, but possessed a seductive charm polished in the secular world. She had a pair of alluring peach blossom eyes, with tears glistening in them, full of desolate sorrow.

As soon as the woman appeared, she dragged her long dress and fell to her knees with a thud, refusing to rise.

Her beautiful face was haggard and grief-stricken. Covering her face with her sleeve, she opened her mouth with heart-rending sobs and chokes. “Great darens, I beg you both, please return Lin’er to this lowly concubine…”

The woman’s voice was too mournful, and her sudden appearance startled both Yun Changliu and Guan Wujue. Blue veins stood out on Duanmu Nanting’s forehead, his bitter melon face becoming even more oppressed as he shouted angrily, “Crying and weeping before guests—how can you be so discourteous! Won’t you withdraw at once?”

After scolding her, he turned to Yun Changliu to apologize. “Sect Leader Yun, please don’t take offense. This is this humble one’s concubine, Lady Liu, Lin’er’s birth mother…”

Yun Changliu understood and said it was no matter.

The group proceeded to the inner chamber and each took their seats in order. Liu Zhu’er still pitifully wiped her tears, not daring to make a sound, merely attending at the side. The maidservant brewed tea and presented it. Lady Liu then lowered her head and came forward to personally pour tea for the guests.

But Duanmu Nanting waved her away. “You may withdraw first. Go fetch Lin’er’s portrait.”

Liu Zhu’er acknowledged and withdrew. The maidservant also perceptively followed her mistress out. Only three people remained in the room—Duanmu Nanting, Yun Changliu, and Guan Wujue.

The tea’s fragrance permeated the air.

The Duanmu Family Head let out a heavy, long sigh.

“To air family shame publicly—how embarrassing…”

“I must also trouble Sect Leader Yun for a bit more time. This humble one apologizes in advance…”

….

In the Duanmu Family Head’s narration, a past event from eighteen years ago was quietly unveiled before the Zhuyin Sect’s Leader and Protector.

It turned out that Duanmu Nanting had one wife and one concubine. His principal wife, Gu Duanxi, was his parents’ arrangement, betrothed from childhood. She bore the legitimate eldest son, Deng. His secondary wife, Liu Zhu’er, had been a singing courtesan from the pleasure quarters. Because of her outstanding appearance and delicate, passionate nature, she was taken in by Family Head Duanmu and gave birth to a son—that missing Young Master Lin.

However, the problem was that the legitimate eldest son who should have inherited the manor, Duanmu Deng, had an honest and simple nature with rather dull aptitude. He understood neither martial arts nor medicine, disappointing Duanmu Nanting to the extreme. And aside from this one son, Gu Duanxi bore no other children, making the Family Head feel even more disheartened.

Just as Duanmu Nanting had begun to worry whether his foolish eldest son could even learn the family’s most basic ultimate techniques, a chance encounter led him to discover his second son Duanmu Lin’s astonishing talent.

…And the story after that was quite troublesome to hear.

Essentially, the internal situation of the Duanmu family was complex. Liu Zhu’er was merely a woman from the secular world. For her to elevate a lowly concubine-born son was as difficult as ascending to heaven. To avoid drawing attention, Duanmu Nanting deliberately gave the appearance of neglecting Young Master Lin, treating him harshly and strictly day after day, intending to motivate the child. As long as he mastered the family’s ultimate techniques ahead of the eldest son, he could win everyone’s support with this achievement.

Regrettably, though the Duanmu Family Head’s plan seemed sound, within a few years, Young Master Lin met with disaster. Duanmu Nanting deeply regretted it, blaming himself for years. It had become an obsession.

And in the final end, the child who succeeded as Young Manor Lord was still the eldest son Duanmu Deng, who had once been quietly abandoned by his father.

Listening to this, Yun Changliu couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, feeling this matter was too stifling. He turned to look at the Protector. Guan Wujue also wore an extremely strange expression.

——This Duanmu Family Head was dedicated and devoted as the Manor Lord of Wanci Manor; however, viewed solely as a father, he could only be judged with the word “failure.”

But Duanmu Nanting had already sunk deeply into his own emotions. He sighed and said:

“I wronged Lin’er… Back then, I was self-righteous, never fulfilling my responsibilities as a father for even one day, and instead harmed the child. If Lin’er could return, I only wish I could take all the good things in the world to compensate him.”

“Sect Leader Yun, I’ll speak plainly as an honest person. Jinxi once advised me to thoroughly investigate the truth of this matter and avenge Lin’er. However… Old Sect Leader Yun has withdrawn from jianghu for many years, and this humble one has also passed fifty, an old fool. The grievances from eighteen years ago are beyond my power to pursue. Now I only wish to find my unfortunate younger son…”

These words were a deliberately obvious display of weakness.

Guan Wujue suddenly said, “Oh? Could it be that Manor Lord Duanmu is so magnanimous that even if it truly was orchestrated by our Old Sect Leader back then, you don’t wish to seek revenge against the Zhuyin Sect?”

His gaze suddenly sharpened. “Are you truly willing to let your younger son suffer needlessly outside for nearly twenty years without even getting an explanation?”

Duanmu Nanting smiled bitterly. “If this humble one truly wished revenge, would I have invited you both here? Wanci Manor is no longer what it once was. Where would we have the confidence to seek revenge at will…”

Guan Wujue asked again, “What if Duanmu Lin harbors hatred?”

This question made Duanmu Nanting hesitate for a moment, but he immediately said seriously, “Protector Guan jests. With Lin’er’s strength alone, he cannot shake a single brick or tile of Xifeng City. If this humble one could truly recover what was lost, how could I allow Lin’er to dash himself against a rock?”

With that, Duanmu Nanting stood and bowed deeply. “As long as Lin’er can be found, Wanci Manor is willing to let bygones be bygones. Please help me, Sect Leader Yun. Duanmu Nanting would be eternally grateful.”

Yun Changliu rose to support him. Duanmu Nanting then summoned Lady Liu inside. From her, he received a scroll painting and presented it with both hands to the Zhuyin Sect Leader.

Yun Changliu accepted it and slowly unfurled the scroll.

On the snow-white rice paper, a young child was depicted.

The young boy in the painting wore simple blue clothes, his frame pitifully thin. His tender features inherited the refined looks of his parents, extremely pure and handsome.

However, the child’s expression was somber without the slightest sign of life. His pair of pitch-black eyes were like deep pools—they simply didn’t seem like those of a living person.

…This was obviously commissioned by Duanmu Nanting and Lady Liu in memory of their young son and should have been painted more pleasingly, yet somehow it had turned out so lifeless and gloomy… Probably because the artist had never seen the child show a smile either, and could only paint it this way.

Yun Changliu stared at the child in a daze, his heart somehow feeling as if it were being gripped—both painful and tight.

An incredible thought flashed through his mind like a streak of white light.

——Have I perhaps seen him before?

Yun Changliu was about to look more closely when Guan Wujue drew the scroll away from beside him.

The Protector examined the child in the painting carefully and thoroughly, his fingers slowly tracing over those dim and lifeless eyes. Then he closed the scroll, raised his head, and smiled at Duanmu Nanting. “Family Head Duanmu…”

“This child—Wujue believes I have seen him before.”