Chapter 70

Changzhou's specialties are white tea, sparrow's tongue tea, and sealed-jar wine; Gusu and Changzhou neighbor each other and trade, and the Wu Family has a shop that has been open here year-round.

Wu Chengyu followed his family's caravan, setting out early in the morning and finally arriving before dinner; the journey was exceptionally smooth, with no further mishaps.

The one responsible for this shop is Wu Zhengyu of the Second House; by seniority, Wu Chengyu would have to call him Fifteenth Uncle.

"Chengyu, you'll rest in the guest room tonight; tomorrow morning I'll have the runner prepare a carriage to send you over."

The goods reached the warehouse; after tallying and handover, he was busy beyond measure, only taking the time to say this one sentence to Wu Chengyu before hurrying away.

Wu Chengyu actually quite enjoys the Wu Family's atmosphere now; even the Main House and Second House take very good care of juniors like them, and in the Gusu area the clan can help resolve whatever arises — the hardships he suffered in Gushan before have given way to a happy, stable life, as if everything is bitterness ended, sweetness begun.

For a transmigrator, such a life should be a stroke of luck one can only hope for; at least Wu Chengyu is very satisfied with everything now — unfortunately it is the late Southern Song, and in a few decades the Southern Song will fall, and they Han people will likely be reduced to second-class citizens.

Therefore, raising his own martial power and the clan's strength is brook-no-delay urgent; Wu Chengyu dares not slacken for a moment.

The next day, sky clear and air fresh, Wu Chengyu took spirit-money candles and offerings and rode in a carriage to the Mu Family Cemetery.

The purpose of this trip is, of course, for the martial arts secret manuals, but coming to pay respects is also sincere — after all, this body carries half the Murong Family bloodline.

The cemetery lies at the foot of West Mountain in Changzhou; back then the Mu Family bought a large tract of land here and moved all those ancestors from Yanzixu here, and afterward lived here for two more generations, until finally the line died out.

The cemetery before Wu Chengyu's eyes is actually already somewhat abandoned; his mother should have returned after marrying into Gusu, but he was too young at the time and has no memory.

Afterward, only the descendants of the Murong Family stewards of old remained here guarding the cemetery; at present it appears daily upkeep is not thorough, with weeds growing thick in many places.

Everyone's tombstones bear the Mu surname; walking a few steps he saw a tombstone engraved with the name Mu Fu, inscribed with birth and death dates, and the words "unfilial son Mu He weeping erected this."

Wu Chengyu paused before this grave, understanding in his heart that the one buried inside should be Murong Fu — the Southern Murong at this moment is but dry bones in a mound.

Before he could finish his lament, he heard someone approaching; footsteps slow and feeble, like an old man's.

"Young man, this is a private mausoleum; outsiders may not enter at will — do not disturb the dead's peace."

A hoary voice came from behind; Wu Chengyu turned and saw a stooped old man, beard and hair all white, age indeterminate, but Wu Chengyu smelled the scent of rot and death on him — this old man's time is probably not long.

The old man's intent was merely to drive Wu Chengyu away, but upon seeing his face he stopped instantly, his originally cloudy eyes flashing with a sharp light.

"May I ask if the young brother is surnamed Wu, and your mother is of this Mu Family?"

Wu Chengyu is handsome, entirely taking after Mu Qingyin; now older, his brows and eyes are seven parts similar to Mu Qingyin, unlike Wu Zhengkang's swarthy, burly look.

He knew he had found the right person; this elder clearly recognized him, and hastily clasped hands and bowed.

"Good day, elder; this junior is Wu Chengyu, my mother is precisely Mu Qingyin."

"Right, right; back then I heard your mother mention your name — it is Chengyu; you and your mother are truly too alike — seeing you is like seeing the young miss of those years; alas, the young miss passed away young, leaving behind this pitiable child.

Come, come, Young Master, don't stand here talking; first go to my place and rest your feet — this old man wants to look at you a while longer."

As soon as the words fell, the old man led Wu Chengyu to a small courtyard on the east side of the cemetery; the courtyard is not large, the house very old, clearly only the old man lives here day to day, carrying the same rotten smell as the old man.

The old man ushered Wu Chengyu into the front hall to sit, then tremblingly poured him a cup of tea.

"This old man is surnamed Deng; you may call me Lao Dengtou; I have followed the Mu Family Head for three generations; when the young miss married, she wanted to take me to Gusu, but the Mu Family Cemetery could not be left without a keeper, so I stayed; who would have thought that in a few years the young miss would be gone; later I heard you were taken away by the Feng Family's young miss — is she well?"

Surnamed Deng — likely a descendant of Deng Baichuan; not to speak of anything else, the Murong Family stewards are truly loyal — generations have never abandoned the Murong Family.

"Elder Deng, my aunt passed away early this year due to dystocia, leaving only a daughter."

Lao Dengtou closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, not speaking for a long while; Wu Chengyu also silently kept him company; after a long time, he finally spoke.

"This old man can still recall: back then the young miss brought the still-childhood Feng Young Miss back for a family visit; your mother and the Feng Young Miss played together every day — fate toys with people; the Head's wife passed, the young miss passed, your mother and the Feng Young Miss so young also gone.

The vast Mu Family's last bloodline remains only you and the Feng Young Miss's daughter; the Mu Family ancestors above — who knows what they would think."

At this moment Lao Dengtou seems to have lost his last shred of spirit; his whole person appears even more aged.

Wu Chengyu asked: "Now the Mu Family has only you left?"

"Yes; the old fellows of before are all gone; ordinary servants were dismissed after your mother married; now the Mu Family has only this old man — daily even the cemetery is neglected; I can't work anymore; Young Master, if you had come two years later, you might not have seen me."

Wu Chengyu also did not expect the Mu Family to be in such straits today; counting the already-dead original body, only Huang Rong carries Murong Family blood — unfortunately Huang Rong fundamentally does not know her maternal family's origins; once the old man before him passes, the Murong Family will truly not even remain a legend — truly, romantic charm is all blown away by rain and wind.

Seeing Wu Chengyu also fall silent, Lao Dengtou tremblingly stood and said: "Come; I'll take you to see your maternal grandfather's mausoleum; all here are Mu Family ancestors — you alone cannot worship them all; worshiping your maternal grandfather counts as worshiping all ancestors; no need for so many cumbersome rites."

Wu Chengyu held the spirit-money candles and those offerings, followed Lao Dengtou to a tomb; the tombstone is engraved "Manifest Ancestors: Late Father Mu Yuan, Late Mother Lin Xiuniang, Spirit Tablet"; the lower left corner reads "unfilial daughter Mu Qingyin weeping erected this" — this is the joint burial tomb of Wu Chengyu's maternal grandfather and grandmother.

So his maternal grandfather was named Mu Yuan, or Murong Yuan; his maternal grandmother was named Lin Xiuniang.

Wu Chengyu placed the offerings before the tombstone, lit the spirit-money candles in the brazier, poured three cups of wine on the ground, then knelt and kowtowed three times.

After worship ended, he lightly cleared the weeds on Mu Yuan's mound, then followed Lao Dengtou back to the small courtyard.

"Elder Deng, the Wu Family has a shop here; I can leave some money on the counter, hire people to watch this place, and have the shop's people come regularly to clean — or you come back to Gusu with me."

Lao Dengtou shook his head, voice weak: "Young Master, you are ultimately surnamed Wu, so you actually no longer count as a Mu Family descendant; my Deng Family has followed the Mu Family for generations, flesh and blood already fused; now the Deng Family also has no heir — just let me stay here, and accompany the Mu Family on its final journey."

Wu Chengyu at this moment cannot bear to see the old man's twilight; he simply cuts straight to the chase and states his true purpose for coming.

"Elder Deng, do you recognize this jade tablet in my hand?"

(Chapter End)