Chapter 13

Usually, when South South Murong Fu was absent, they dared not easily ascend Manora Shanzhuang, fearing Li Li Qingluo's ferocity and tyranny, but with South South Murong Fu standing in front, it was different.

With South South Murong Fu present, Li Li Qingluo could not kill or cripple them just because she found them disagreeable.

South South Murong Fu brought his two maids, along with Bao Butong and Feng Bo'e, up to Manora Shanzhuang; as usual, he went to pay his respects to Li Li Qingluo, but was stopped by a maid who said her mistress was receiving no guests.

Finding this strange, South South Murong Fu privately summoned an informant he had planted within Manora Shanzhuang to inquire.

"She had an argument with her cousin yesterday, and ever since then she has been distraught?"

South South Murong Fu wondered inwardly: "My cousin actually got into an argument with someone, and with her own mother at that; could it be because of me?"

Recalling what Sister Sister Abi had said earlier, South South Murong Fu felt he had guessed the truth.

Thus, he cast a triumphant glance toward Li Li Qingluo's quarters, then turned to seek out Wang Wang Wang Yuyan.

Today, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan had not gone to the Langzhong Pavilion; instead, she sat alone amidst the flowering trees, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a familiar voice she had been longing for called out: "Cousin!"

"Cousin!"

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan unconsciously brightened with joy, turned to look, and saw South South Murong Fu walking toward her.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan hastily rose to meet him, yet the very first words South South Murong Fu spoke left her stunned: "Cousin, have you penetrated the sixth layer of the 'Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art' I gave you? Quickly, tell your cousin about it!"

The excited expression on Wang Wang Wang Yuyan's face froze, and the steps she had taken forward halted.

Seeing this, South South Murong Fu realized he had been too impatient; immediately changing his tone, he spoke softly: "I am sorry, Cousin; it was I who was hasty. Have you been well these past days?"

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan collected herself, forcing a strained smile: "I am fine; I am very well."

"That is good, that is good!" South South Murong Fu gently tapped his palm with the folding fan in his hand, yet for a moment he was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan's eyes grew even more desolate; forcing a smile, she said: "Cousin, I have already penetrated the sixth layer of the 'Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art'; I will explain it to you now."

South South Murong Fu was overjoyed: "Excellent! Then many thanks to you, Cousin!"

So Wang Wang Wang Yuyan recounted her insights and understanding in full detail.

After listening carefully, South South Murong Fu sat cross-legged by himself and began cultivating on the spot.

Seeing this, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked toward her room.

First, she poured a bowl of water, then drew a small porcelain bottle from her bosom; inside was precisely the "Truth Water."

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan had intended to pour the "Truth Water" into the bowl, but at the critical moment, she hesitated again.

Because she was afraid!

Afraid of not getting the answer she desired!

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan struggled inwardly; just as she was about to give up, she suddenly recalled Jiang Sishui's assessment of her—

A "vase" with no self in her soul!

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan gritted her teeth, her gaze gradually turning resolute: "No! I can no longer deceive myself; I must know the truth!"

Saying this, she opened the bottle's mouth, about to pour the "Truth Water" into the bowl.

Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind: "Young Lady Cousin!"

This exclamation was extremely abrupt; since Wang Wang Wang Yuyan was already feeling guilty and unsettled, she was thoroughly startled.

Her hand trembled, and the small porcelain bottle slipped from her grasp.

In an instant, three simultaneous cries of surprise from young women rang out.

Yet none of them were in time to catch it; they could only watch helplessly as the small porcelain bottle fell to the ground...

The imagined scene of the bottle shattering and water splashing did not occur; whether by coincidence or not, the small porcelain bottle landed precisely on its base, and not a single drop of the "Truth Water" inside spilled out.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan let out a long sigh of relief, yet her heart still pounded with lingering fear; turning to look at the two maids who had entered, she showed a hint of reproach: "Sister Sister Azhu, Sister Sister Abi, you two..."

"Young Lady Cousin, please calm your anger; we did not mean to!" Sister Sister Abi hastily apologized.

Sister Sister Azhu, however, rolled her eyes cunningly, picked up the small porcelain bottle from the floor, and feigned ignorance: "Young Lady Cousin, what is inside this? Just now, it seemed you were about to pour it into this water; who is this water for?"

Asked thus, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan realized that her attempt to administer "Truth Water" to South South Murong Fu had been discovered.

And the ones who had discovered it were her cousin's own maids!

This threw her mind into chaos; she stammered, unable to speak.

Sister Sister Azhu's eyes sparkled with amusement; relentlessly, she pressed on: "Surely Young Lady Cousin does not intend to give this thing to the Young Master to drink?"

With her thoughts thus exposed, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan was even more alarmed.

Yet she was by no means foolish; only in South South Murong Fu's presence would blind love cloud her judgment; when facing others, her intellect had not diminished.

After the initial panic subsided, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan suddenly calmed down and gazed intently at Sister Sister Azhu.

Sister Sister Azhu, being stared at so seriously by her, involuntarily lost some of her boldness.

After all, she was merely a maid; daring to speak to Wang Wang Wang Yuyan in such a manner was indeed a breach of propriety.

Although Wang Wang Wang Yuyan usually got along well with the two of them and did not treat them as mere servants, if one were to be strict about it, their behavior constituted insubordination, deserving punishment!

This was an inherent disadvantage brought by their status.

"Young Lady Cousin, why do you look at me so? Is there something on my face?" Sister Sister Azhu touched her own cheek.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan, however, did not blink, staring fixedly at her; suddenly, she parted her crimson lips and uttered four words: "Diary Copy!"

Upon speaking these words, nothing changed.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan instantly understood: "As expected, you two also possess Diary Copies."

Previously, having seen Sister Sister Azhu and Sister Sister Abi's names mentioned in the diary entries, she had guessed they might also hold Diary Copies; now, with this test, it was confirmed.

This meant that Sister Sister Azhu and Sister Sister Abi already knew what was inside this small porcelain bottle!

"Sister Sister Azhu, do you now dare to mock me?" Wang Wang Wang Yuyan's expression was blank, yet her words carried a hint of anger.

"This humble servant would not dare!" Sister Sister Azhu hastily lowered her head.

Consequently, Sister Sister Abi also dared not make a sound.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan took the small porcelain bottle from A Zhu's hand and said, "Since you also possess a copy of the diary, you know what is inside. Are you going to stop me now?"

A Zhu and A Bi exchanged glances, then shook their heads in unison: "We servants dare not!"

Seeing this, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan pressed the matter no further; she turned and poured the "Truth Water" into a bowl.

Standing rooted in place, dazed for a long while, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan let out a soft sigh: "If you wish to hear your young master's truth, then follow along shortly."

With that, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan carried the bowl of water and went out the door.

"Sister A Zhu, what shall we do?" A Bi tugged at A Zhu's sleeve.

A Zhu sighed: "What else can we do? Did you not see that the Young Lady is angry? We agreed this matter was beyond our control, so let us just go and take a look."

"Just take a look?"

"That depends on whether an opportunity arises."

Not long after Wang Wang Wang Yuyan returned to the spot, South South Murong Fu ceased his cultivation and rose, his face brimming with joy as he lavished praise: "Cousin, your martial arts talent is truly unparalleled under heaven!"

"I have heard that while anyone can practice the first layer of the 'Dragon Elephant Prajna Art,' each subsequent layer doubles in difficulty."

"The Tibetan Esoteric Sect has transmitted this art for many years; the highest achievement by any practitioner reached only the ninth layer, and that person went mad shortly after mastering it. Only in this generation did a uniquely gifted individual, the Dharma King Golden Wheel, break through to the tenth layer!"

"Now, cousin, having obtained this divine art merely half a year ago, you have already comprehended the sixth layer. It is evident that even the Dharma King Golden Wheel falls far short of you."

"The Tibetan Esoteric Sect is nothing more than this!"

South South Murong Fu threw back his head and laughed loudly at the sky.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan sighed softly: "Cousin, do not underestimate the heroes of the world. I have heard that within the Tibetan Esoteric Sect there is one named Phags-pa, extraordinarily powerful, who is..."

"Enough, enough, I already know all this; there is no need for cousin to add another word." South South Murong Fu felt Wang Wang Wang Yuyan was lecturing him, and a great impatience swelled in his heart.

Seeing his attitude toward her now so different from before, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan felt a pang of sorrow in her heart, yet her resolve strengthened all the more.

She turned, lifted the bowl of water from beside her, and said, "Cousin, you must be tired from practicing your arts. Drink some water."

"Mm." South South Murong Fu suspected nothing; under Wang Wang Wang Yuyan's anxious gaze, he took the bowl and drained it in one gulp.

After drinking, he handed the empty bowl back to Wang Wang Wang Yuyan and said, "Cousin, I have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave now."

With that, without waiting for Wang Wang Wang Yuyan to reply, he turned to depart.

Yet after taking only two steps, he halted right where he stood.

"Cousin? Cousin?"

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan called out softly twice from behind; seeing South South Murong Fu give no response, she walked around to stand before him.

At that moment, South South Murong Fu's eyes were hollow and lifeless; he stared blankly into the distance, as if his soul had fled, leaving behind merely a walking corpse.

"Is this the effect of the 'Truth Water'?"

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan steadied her mind; daring not to waste time, she asked, "Cousin, do you still remember who I am?"