Chapter Eight: A Family Upheaval

The youth in white slowly walked back to the inn. Upon entering his room, he removed the silver mask, revealing a pair of slender, deep phoenix-like eyes. His features were exquisitely handsome, his skin as smooth and pale as jade. His bearing was noble and elegant, radiating an ethereal grace and a distant, cold aristocratic aura.

Half a year ago, he had descended from the immortal sect of Mount Shu to the mortal realm for cultivation and training. On the way, he stopped by Chang’an Town to fulfill a dream he had cherished for many years.

Ten years prior, during a time of hardship, a sweet little girl had appeared in his life, sharing a warm and tender moment with him.

The little girl once said to him, “Brother Jiu, when I grow up, I want to marry you.”

“Brother Jiu, ten years from now, you must come back to see me.”

“Brother Jiu, I don’t want to marry anyone else; I want to marry you.”

“Brother Jiu, pinky swear, a hundred years, no changing.”

...

Ten years later, he returned to White Flower Village, seeking a girl named Xiao’er.

But as he nervously yet excitedly stepped into the village entrance, what greeted him was a desolate, abandoned mountain hamlet.

The peach tree they had planted together before the little wooden house had grown into a towering giant.

He touched the thick trunk, where the carved words “Xiao’er” and “Mu Jiu” were still faintly visible.

“Perhaps she has long forgotten Brother Jiu,” the youth in white mused, recalling the small boy he had just met, who had enthusiastically introduced local delicacies with animated expressions, causing him to smile to himself.

He looked at the half-eaten candied hawthorn stick in his hand and took a gentle bite. The taste was sweet and sour, incredibly delicious.

Yesterday, he had received notice from the Mount Shu Immortal Sect, urging him to return promptly to lead the disciples’ recruitment trials next year. Chang’an Town was still over a thousand miles from Mount Shu, so he resolved to set off early the next morning.

Meanwhile, the small boy happily skipped into the courtyard and pushed open the door, immediately spotting the worried woman waiting inside.

His face lit up with joy as he rushed over, hugging her neck and acting spoiled. “Mother! You’re finally back! We haven’t seen each other for half a month; Yue’er missed you so much!”

“Why did you sneak out by yourself? Didn’t I tell you lately it’s been unsafe? Don’t wander around at night!” The woman helped him remove his mask, chiding gently, “You, always pretending to be a boy and running around everywhere.”

A tall, slender youth hurried in and said, “Aunt Ming, Ming Yue...”

Seeing the girl clinging to the woman and acting coy, he exclaimed, “Ming Yue, you’re back? There were so many people, I couldn’t find you.”

Ming Yue giggled in her mother’s arms, turning to reveal an exquisitely beautiful, delicate face. “Xiao Wu, you silly! When have you ever found me?”

Xiao Wu scratched his head and smiled bashfully.

Uncle Wang entered, saying, “Aunt Ming, Xiao Wu and I will head over first. The hot water is ready; you both should rest early.”

Aunt Ming watched them leave, closed the doors and windows, then struggled over to the girl. “Yue’er, it’s late. Wash up and sleep...” Before she could finish, she suddenly coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.

Ming Yue caught her mother just in time, alarmed. “Mother, what’s wrong?”

She quickly helped her lie down, feeling her pulse with growing dread. “Mother, your pulse is so chaotic. Have you suffered a severe internal injury?”

The woman’s face was pale and weak. “Yue’er, listen to your mother... I’ve always wanted to watch you grow up, see you marry happily and have children... but I’m afraid I won’t live to see that day... my time is near, and my days are few...” She coughed up more blood.

Ming Yue was stunned, crying out, “Mother, aren’t you a divine healer? Tell me quickly, how can I save you?”

Tears streaming, she sobbed, “Mother, don’t leave me alone. Without you, what am I to do?”

The woman tenderly stroked her daughter’s hair, struggling to speak. “Yue’er, listen... I am already over three hundred years old... a so-called immortal cultivator... but even immortals have limits. With my power, living this long is already a stretch...”

What she didn’t say was that immortals could extend their lives with elixirs, but she had never obtained the legendary high-grade pills capable of rewriting fate in over three centuries.

Though her appearance remained unchanged, her body was slowly deteriorating. Originally, she could have lived several more decades, but after suffering a grave internal injury from a divine beast guarding an elixir she sought in the Western Wasteland, her life force was fading prematurely.

“My dear Yue’er, your mother cherishes you and doesn’t want to leave you. I so wish to watch you grow up and live a happy life...” she said with aching sorrow.

Ming Yue’s tears flowed freely as she listened. The woman continued, “Before I go, there is something I must tell you...”

Raising her tear-streaked face, Ming Yue looked at her mother through sobs.

After a pause, the woman resumed, “Thirteen years ago, I traveled to the Eastern Sea in search of an anti-aging elixir. Passing by Penglai Immortal Island, at ten o’clock in the early morning by a small river, I found you. You seemed just born, wrapped in a brocade quilt, with only a jade pendant—the very one you’ve worn since childhood... I’m sorry, I lied to you. I don’t know who your biological father is. Perhaps one day you will.”

Her breath grew uneven from speaking so much. “Yue’er, I have taught you most of my knowledge in medicine. Use it to make your living. If you live a safe and healthy life, I will be content... Over the years, I haven’t saved much wealth for you while caring for the villagers, but I have left you a few thousand silver taels as your dowry...”

Ming Yue clung to her mother, crying, “Mother, please don’t say more. I don’t want to marry anyone. I don’t want a father. I just want to stay with you, sob...”

“Silly child, every woman must marry someday—even immortals...” The woman’s face darkened as she forced a wry smile. “I longed to see you grow up and wear your bridal gown... Though you are not my own by birth, I have always regarded you as my own daughter...”

Ming Yue hugged her mother tightly, crying out, “Mother, whether I’m your biological child or not, you are my dearest mother in my heart. No one can ever replace you.”

The woman smiled with relief, gently stroking the girl’s head. Then, flushing suddenly, she hesitated before taking out a folded brocade handkerchief sewn shut, placing it softly in Ming Yue’s hand.

“Mother once forbade you from learning cultivation. But if you wish to pursue it in the future, go ahead... This letter, if one day you are fortunate enough to enter Mount Shu Immortal Sect, please deliver it to someone called San Lang... If you never go, then... burn it... Yue, Ming Yuyan loves you dearly... but fate is cruel...” Her voice gradually faded.

Ming Yue looked up in shock, but saw her mother smiling peacefully, already breathless.

Her heart shattered. As she reached to embrace her, she saw her mother’s once black hair instantly turn white, her youthful face withering into that of an old woman. Her body gradually dissipated until nothing remained, even her clothes vanished into swirling smoke.

Overwhelmed with grief, Ming Yue’s vision darkened, and she fainted beside the bed.

When she awoke, it was already the early hours of the next morning.

She lay in her own bed, seeing Uncle Wang and Xiao Wu standing at her bedside, eyes red and filled with sorrow.

“Uncle Wang, my mother...” Ming Yue struggled to sit up, clutching him and breaking down in tears.

Xiao Wu was at a loss, repeatedly soothing her, “Ming Yue, don’t cry, please don’t cry...”

“Child, I was worried and came early to check on you, only to find you collapsed. There was a letter Aunt Ming left on the table, and I realized...” Uncle Wang choked up, “Child, the dead cannot be brought back... You must learn to be strong...”

Ming Yue wept bitterly, crying for a long while before finally calming.

Uncle Wang had already sent Xiao Wu out to buy white cloth for setting up the mourning hall, even hanging white cloth on the main gate plaque.

Once bustling with noise, the Hundred Herb Hall was now shut tight, with white mourning banners at the entrance. Even the pharmacy remained closed.

Ming Yue closed the door and kept vigil for her mother in the back hall, where the coffin lay. Uncle Wang had carefully arranged the mourning hall. Inside the coffin were her mother’s favorite clothes, hairpins, jewelry, and a treasured sword she had used in life.

Late at night, Uncle Wang, old in years, had returned to rest. The large courtyard was left with only Xiao Wu accompanying Ming Yue through the nights.

In recent days, apart from former villagers coming to pay respects, few came to buy medicine. Those seeking treatment often turned away upon seeing the closed doors.

Kneeling with bowed head, Ming Yue burned incense and paper money, remembering her childhood spent with her mother. How warm and happy those days had been, leaning on each other. Now left alone, facing all the challenges ahead, her heart ached unbearably, tears streaming like broken pearls into the brazier, the flames hissing as they were doused.

Xiao Wu, seeing her so grief-stricken, opened his mouth to console her but didn’t know where to begin. He kept repeating, “Ming Yue, the funeral is in a few days. You must hold back your grief. From now on, live with us—I will take good care of you.”

Hearing this, Ming Yue’s sorrow deepened. She bowed her slender frame and wept bitterly, the only sound her sorrowful sobbing.

Days passed, and the seven-day vigil flew by. Uncle Wang and Xiao Wu accompanied Ming Yue to her mother’s funeral. Ming Yue’s mood gradually stabilized by day, though she remained listless, reluctant to see patients or find energy for anything.

More than a month later, one day when Xiao Wu went to buy herbs, Uncle Wang took a quiet moment with Ming Yue.

“Yue’er, Uncle Wang has watched you grow up. Aunt Ming did so much for the villagers. Seeing her gone, we are all deeply grieved.”

Ming Yue lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes.

“Child, if your mother were still alive, she would want to see you happy and safe every day. The living must go on, right?”

Seeing no reply, Uncle Wang continued, “She passed on her medical skills and the clinic to you, hoping you would carry on her legacy—not sink into despair. If she watches you from heaven, she would be sad to see you like this.”

Ming Yue looked up and tearfully said, “Uncle Wang, my heart aches. Without my mother, I have no family, no support. I feel so lost and lonely.”

“Child, who says you have no family? When your mother was alive, we lived like one big family. Aren’t we your family now?” Uncle Wang’s eyes reddened as he choked up.

“Uncle Wang...” Ming Yue called out with a lump in her throat.

With affection, Uncle Wang said, “You grew up with Xiao Wu. From now on, the two of you will run the clinic together—he sells herbs, you see patients. Life will be peaceful and happy.”

Ming Yue nodded. Uncle Wang added, “You’re thirteen now. When you turn sixteen, I’ll take care of the rest.”

Curious, Ming Yue asked, “Uncle Wang, what is there to take care of between Xiao Wu and me?”

Uncle Wang laughed, “Marriage, silly child. Men marry when they grow up, women too. No need to be shy. You and Xiao Wu grew up together, know each other well. After the new year, he’ll be eighteen.”

Ming Yue was stunned. She and Xiao Wu had grown up side by side, yes, but she held no romantic feelings for him. She hurriedly said, “Uncle Wang, I just see Xiao Wu as a brother! We really...”

Uncle Wang smiled warmly. “No need to be shy, I understand. We’re not rushing. We’ll talk when you’re older. It’s late now; you should watch over the clinic. We used to only see patients a few days a month. I think it’s time to have daily consultations.”

“I really don’t...” Ming Yue tried to protest, wanting to say she had no feelings for Xiao Wu, but Uncle Wang left with a satisfied grin. She watched his departing figure anxiously, stamping her foot.

Ming Yue did not immediately see patients. Instead, she opened the window of the herb shop beside the clinic to sell medicines. Looking around, everything remained as it was when her mother was alive.

She recalled the day ten years ago when they moved here, and her mother set everything up, holding her close and kissing her. “Good girl, this is our home now. Mother will watch you grow happy and marry well.”

That scene seemed as vivid as if it were yesterday. Ming Yue sighed deeply, forcing back the tears and telling herself she must be strong.