Chapter 154 The Seed of Doubt

Yun Qingyao's slender frame trembled slightly. It was true; back then, Jian Wushuang's cultivation had been several minor Realms lower than hers. Her father, as the Family head, had reached the Soul Transformation Realm, and his Divine Sense had covered the entire clan, yet he hadn't detected any sign of approaching enemies. How could Jian Wushuang, a mere low-level Cultivator servant, have 'foreseen the enemy's move'? And that secret passage—even she, the Young Miss, had only vaguely heard her father mention it. How had Jian Wushuang known about it?

Questions burrowed into her heart like cold vipers, piercing the defenses weakened by grief and memories. Mu Changge's previous description of a 'Child of Fortune'—the 'tragic beginning,' 'sucking away the Luck of those around them,' and 'always managing to escape danger'—began to uncontrollably connect and overlap with Jian Wushuang's background as an orphan, the Yun Family's tragedy, and his strange performance that night...

Could it... really... be him? Could the person she saw as an older brother, a benefactor, and even someone she relied on, be the root cause of her Family's destruction? No... it couldn't be... Brother Wushuang has been so good to me, helping me all these years... But...

The massive shock and chaotic thoughts caused her to lose her mental composure. Grief, doubt, fear, and denial intertwined, finally crushing her strength. Her body shook, and she stumbled, nearly falling. Tears rolled down like pearls from a broken string.

"Senior Sister Qingyao!" Mu Changge reacted quickly, stepping forward to firmly steady her swaying shoulders.

With her mental defenses shattered and her heart filled with grief and confusion, Yun Qingyao didn't resist for a moment, allowing herself to lean into a warm and solid embrace. She buried her face against his chest, her suppressed sobs sounding low as her shoulders trembled slightly.

Mu Changge's body stiffened for a moment before relaxing. He looked down at the pitiable beauty in his arms, her face like a pear blossom bathed in rain. A complex, dark glint flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by gentle concern. He didn't speak, simply holding her lightly, one hand clumsily yet softly patting her back while the other reached up to carefully wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks with his thumb. His movements were very light, carrying a sense of preciousness.

"It's not your fault... Qingyao, it's not your fault..." he whispered repeatedly, his low voice carrying a soothing power. "Your father and mother loved you. They fought to the death to ensure your safety because they wanted you to live well, not to live forever in self-blame and pain."

Mu Changge's embrace was warm, and his scent was clean and refreshing, carrying a reassuring power. Amidst his low-voiced comfort and gentle touch, Yun Qingyao's collapsing emotions gradually began to settle. But then, she realized how intimate their current posture was—she was leaning almost entirely in Mu Changge's arms, his fingers still lingered on her cheek, and his breath was mere inches away.

With a "boom," Yun Qingyao's cheeks and ears instantly turned a deep red, as if about to drip blood. This... they were still on the way to pay respects to her parents, and they were in mid-air! How could she... She snapped awake, struggling out of Mu Changge's arms like a startled deer. She retreated several steps to create distance, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest. She kept her head down, not daring to look into Mu Changge's eyes, feeling her face burning intensely. Even her grief seemed somewhat diluted by this sudden embarrassment.

"I... I'm sorry... I lost my composure..." Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, heavy with a nasal tone and panic.

Mu Changge let go smoothly, as if the embrace had been nothing more than a friend's comfort. His expression was calm, showing just the right amount of concern. "It's no matter. I know you're hurting." He didn't approach again, only looking at her warmly. "Let us... continue our journey. We shouldn't miss the hour."

Yun Qingyao nodded haphazardly and turned away. She took several deep breaths, barely calming her frantic heartbeat and the heat on her face, before taking to her sword to fly again, though her movements were somewhat flustered.

For the rest of the journey, the atmosphere between them became much more subtle. Yun Qingyao remained silent, whether to calm her heart or to digest those startling suspicions. Mu Changge also tactfully refrained from mentioning another word about the Child of Fortune, Jian Wushuang, or the Yun Family tragedy. He knew that the seeds of suspicion had been quietly planted and were beginning to take root. Saying more now would seem forced and might cause a backlash. He only needed to let the seed grow slowly in her heart, nourished by her own memories and observations, until it eventually bore the fruit he desired.

He simply followed quietly by Yun Qingyao's side, maintaining a distance of a single pace.

From the corner of her eye, Yun Qingyao would occasionally glance at the man beside her, who seemed exceptionally calm and considerate today (slightly different from his usual unrestrained and lazy demeanor). The warmth of his embrace seemed to linger, the sensation of his fingers wiping her tears still felt on her cheek... and then there were his words, seemingly unintentional, yet appearing to have opened a Pandora's box within her heart...

Jian Wushuang... Child of Fortune... immortal kings small tower... Family destroyed... early warning...

These words and images constantly intertwined and collided in her mind, leaving her thoughts in a tangled mess.

Before she knew it, a neatly maintained cemetery shrouded in a faint air of sorrow came into view amidst the green mountains and emerald valleys below. There lay her closest kin in eternal sleep.

A fresh wave of grief surged, and Yun Qingyao temporarily pushed down her chaotic thoughts. She composed herself and descended, her expression becoming solemn and mournful once more.

The process of paying respects was solemn and silent. Yun Qingyao burned incense, bowed, and laid out offerings before her parents' grave, whispering her longing and recent news as tears flowed silently. Mu Changge remained standing quietly a short distance away, his expression solemn as he paid his respects in silence, not disturbing her mourning.

On the way back, the two remained mostly silent. But unlike the journey there, this silence seemed to hold many indescribable things.

He knew that after today, something deep within Yun Qingyao's heart had quietly changed. And this was exactly what he wanted. In the game against a Child of Fortune, besides the overt confrontation of strength, this battlefield of hearts and emotions was equally vital.

He was in no hurry; he had plenty of patience to wait for this seed to grow into a towering tree, or even... to become the sharpest blade pointed at the Child of Fortune. And the subtle relationship between him and Yun Qingyao seemed to have moved a step closer today, amidst this journey where grief and suspicion intertwined.