To ensure the longevity of Jun Xie and provide him with the best medical care, the old man resolutely sent him to the hospital, which naturally led to an investigation, and subsequently, imprisonment...
Jun Xie could use that lie as a cover, but the old man could not.
The old man's body riddled with old scars and that unique chilling aura made him too conspicuous, unwittingly exposing his true identity...
After enduring numerous trials and escaping prison to return, the old man never uttered a single word about it.
It was as if...
nothing had ever happened! The rigorous training continued as before; when Jun Xie failed, the old man would still explode in rage, cursing him as a little bastard or a mongrel, even resorting to physical punishment! But Jun Xie now clearly understood that this old man was the only person he could truly rely on! For a man, some things need not be spoken! Because those things only require action! A casual remark, dropped unintentionally by Miao Xiaomiao, stirred a deep, distant memory in Jun Moxie’s heart—the one recollection that always brought him warmth whenever he thought of it! Jun Moxie sat quietly, his eyes holding a faint yet enduring longing, a serene smile gracing his lips.
His gaze stretched far into the distance, dreamlike and ethereal, as if in that instant, he had retreated into a world entirely his own...
Miao Xiaomiao watched the young master with clear, steady eyes, her gaze slowly softening.
For a long while, she made no move to interrupt, allowing Jun Moxie to steep in his memories.
After a pause...
Jun Moxie finally looked up, his scattered gaze refocusing, and he offered Miao Xiaomiao a slight smile. "I was momentarily lost in some old memories just now; I apologize for my distraction, making a spectacle of myself before you, Miss..." "A genuine display of emotion speaks of an innocent heart.
A true nature like yours, Young Master, is hardly a lapse in conduct.
You must have recalled something truly worthy of remembrance?" The light in Miao Xiaomiao’s eyes softened behind her veil as she inquired gently.
Jun Moxie took a deep breath. "Indeed...
There are things in life one can never forget, precisely because they are worth remembering...
Yet, it is often these very things we deem worthy that cause the deepest sorrow when recalled, even as we could never bear to forget them..." Miao Xiaomiao listened silently for a long time before finally smiling softly. "But...
to have such a person or such moments in one's heart...
is a form of happiness.
The most tragic fate is...
to live a life without ever encountering a single person or event worth cherishing so deeply..." "That is profoundly true!" Jun Moxie smiled, then asked, "May I ask if Miss Miao shares this sentiment? Do you, too, possess memories or past moments worth recalling, or perhaps...
a person?" Miao Xiaomiao’s gaze rested upon his face, held there for a long moment, before slowly shifting away to fix upon some vacant point beyond the window.
After a period of deep silence, she replied with a slight dryness in her voice, "Yes...
I do." "Fascinating, fascinating.
The way you put it leaves me quite bewildered.
First, you implied you didn't, and now you do—so, is there or isn't there? Haha..." Jun Moxie laughed heartily.
Miao Xiaomiao’s eyes held no trace of amusement.
She turned her head to look at him, then turned back, sighing softly. "Fallen blossoms fade in spring’s early blush, too quickly gone; alas, the cold rain greets the dawn, the evening wind blows on.
Rouge tears remain to hold one captive, when will they return? Life’s long regret flows ever east like water...
Ah..." As Jun Moxie finished reciting, he gave a self-deprecating smile. "I suppose you, Miss, favor the subtle, melancholic themes of fading spring and autumn sorrow.
My impromptu verse, which I threw out carelessly, was perhaps too heavy.
You need not dwell on it." Miao Xiaomiao’s eyebrows lifted slightly, her body trembling.
She felt an urge to retort—I am not like other women; I may not favor the common sorrows of spring and autumn that they do.
Good verse or poor verse, I can judge for myself.
The preceding piece possessed immense scope, yet you humbly dismiss it as a careless improvisation—that is too much.
Do you not know that excessive modesty borders on hypocrisy? However, upon hearing the second stanza Jun Moxie recited and turning it over in her mind, she found she lacked the courage to voice her counter-argument...
This poem...
was truly steeped in desolation...
Merely pondering it in her heart, she felt the profound sense of helpless sorrow it conveyed—so intangible and elusive, yet like a fine mist enveloping her heart, obscuring her vision, blurring the entire world...
a hazy state that made one feel intoxicated, mesmerized, dreamlike, yet torn apart inside... "Fallen blossoms fade in spring’s early blush, too quickly gone...
alas, the cold rain greets the dawn, the evening wind blows on." Miao Xiaomiao sat quietly, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed, her eyes clouded with mist. "Life’s long regret flows ever east like water...
Sigh." Miao Xiaomiao closed her eyes, an intense sourness gripping her heart.
She didn't know why she felt such pain.
Could this short poem truly articulate the most ineffable helplessness of life, stirring up the hidden emotions buried deepest within her? Was she not like a bright, vividly blooming flower, yet existing in this vulgar, sprawling mortal world where the sun and moon shuttle so fast, where countless libertines lurk and scheme, eyeing her covetously? Even her own family had never truly planned for her happiness; despite her extraordinary talent, she was merely a tool for greater exchanges of benefit...
The world knew of her high status, the daughter of the Phantom Mansion's Lord, showered with favor, supposedly living carefree and joyous lives.
But who knew the true sorrow of the great clans? This truly was...
alas, the cold rain greets the dawn, the evening wind blows on...
In such adverse circumstances, how long could this flower's bloom last? Once the petals fall and beauty fades, it will truly be a case of life’s long regret flows ever east like water...
Was this Mo Junye deliberately trying to make her weep? Yet why, after hearing his words, did her eyes prickle, her nose grow tight, finding herself unable to control her emotions, losing control to this extent? She had already reached a realm above the Sovereign, just half a step from attaining the Sovereign level.
Coupled with the effects of the Exquisite Lotus and the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit, her spirit was stable, and nothing could unsettle her mind.
She had long been capable of freely mastering and controlling her own emotions.
Why, then, was she losing control now? Miao Xiaomiao lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes blinking rapidly and haphazardly.
Her mind felt tangled like a skein of thread.
She couldn't grasp what was happening to her; she couldn't articulate the reason or explain the cause, only feeling an inexplicable distress... "My two young ladies, as the hour grows late, if you have no further business, I shall take my leave." Jun Moxie was sharp-witted.
Seeing that he had gleaned enough for the day, he decided to quit while he was ahead, unwilling to continue showing off.
He was about to depart.
To keep exhibiting endlessly...
would diminish his value... "Wait, Brother Mo, please wait." Miao Xiaomiao’s expression instantly returned to calm, but the little sprout beside her had been furiously scribbling, recording both poems Jun Moxie had just recited without missing a single word.
Jun Moxie glanced sideways.
He saw the little loli gripping the brush handle with her tender, pale hand, her brushwork flying with surprising speed—a display of beautiful, neat regular script, showing considerable skill. "Does Miss Miao require further instruction?" Jun Moxie paused, looking at Miao Xiaomiao.
He knew this girl hadn't sought him out merely for 'acquaintance'; there would surely be a follow-up, but since she was unwilling to state it first, he naturally wouldn't ask.
If he initiated the questioning, it would only put him at a disadvantage, ceding control...
That would be akin to inviting someone to extort him, and Jun Moxie was not one to do that.
A flicker crossed Miao Xiaomiao’s expression before settling into her previous clarity.
Seeming to have made a decision, she looked up at him. "Brother Mo, please forgive my forwardness given our short acquaintance, but have you offended anyone? And perhaps, do you know just how many people you have made enemies of?" "Offended anyone? I am new here, with no connections.
Who could I possibly have offended?" Jun Moxie scratched his head, completely bewildered by the question. "If I must name someone, it’s only Young Master Gu.
Didn't I offend Young Master Gu Feiyu today? And by extension, the entire Gu family? That’s quite a significant offense..." "What I speak of is not about Gu Feiyu.
It concerns who you offended before you arrived here!" Miao Xiaomiao clarified. "Then...
no! Absolutely not! I generally dislike stirring up trouble, and without the means to cause trouble, why would I provoke anyone!" Jun Moxie shook his head firmly.
He briefly considered mentioning those city guards, but then thought those fellows were hardly worth drawing Miao Xiaomiao's attention.
Beyond them, he truly hadn't offended anyone of note. "So, Brother Mo genuinely does not know!" Miao Xiaomiao looked at him with a questioning gaze, studying him for a long moment before finally confirming.
Seeing that he was indeed ignorant of the matter, she gave a wry, helpless smile and slowly continued, "The moment you stepped out of the inner city of the Phantom Mansion today, that news had already spread throughout the various clans!" "Oh?" Jun Moxie raised an eyebrow.
Miao Xiaomiao’s words were a direct prompt.
Jun Moxie understood instantly: someone in Cao Guofeng's circle was secretly leaking information to the outside! Otherwise, the news certainly wouldn't have 'spread throughout the various clans.' "Indeed, as a result, several young masters took simultaneous action, arriving in Heart Phantom City at almost the exact same time." Miao Xiaomiao pursed her lips and gave a slight smile.
No wonder! I ran into two major figures I shouldn't provoke the moment I stepped out today—it makes sense now.
I thought my luck couldn't be this good; it turns out someone is orchestrating and manipulating everything behind the scenes...
Jun Moxie felt a sharp, painful twitch in his jaw. "Brother Mo likely also doesn't know that the Phantom Mansion had intended to select several outstanding talents from among all the young prodigies recently, to be sent to the inner mansion for specialized training, grooming them as the next generation of Phantom Mansion leaders.
In other words, the Phantom Mansion is preparing for the future! And your arrival, Brother Mo, with your Ethereal Body, has completely disrupted all those plans!" (To be continued.
For the subsequent events, support the author and purchase the genuine chapters!)