Chapter 551: Leaving

“You say you’re devoted to Zhu Ying, so let me ask you, have you ever told her your real name?”

Zhu Ju’s voice was light and airy, yet it landed like a heavy hammer on both their hearts.

?

Yangg Yi’s head snapped up, his eyes filled with astonishment, confusion, and fearful unease.

‘His real name was Hong Yi, the son of the former Qingyi Gang’s Gang Leader, Hong Qingyi, and he carried the weight of a blood feud.’

Other than an old man who had died of illness at the Orphanage two years ago, no one else should have known about this.

‘How could the Young Master know?’

Zhu Ying turned to look at him, her eyes filled with doubt. The deep affection in them seemed to be tainted, no longer pure.

“Yangg Yi…”

She began to speak, her voice trembling:

“Your surname… isn’t Yangg?”

‘What his surname was didn’t matter, but if he hid something like this from her, how could she trust anything else he said?’

“Yingying,” Yangg Yi said urgently,

“Let me explain.”

“Fine!”

Zhu Ying took a deep breath, looked him straight in the eye, and said in a stifled voice,

“Then give me an explanation!”

“…” Yangg Yi opened his mouth, his expression complex. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

“Yangg Yi.”

Zhu Ju said,

“How has the Zhu Mansion treated you?”

“It’s a debt for saving my life.” Yangg Yi lowered his head.

“If the Zhu Mansion hadn’t saved me, I… I’m afraid I would have lost my life long ago. I wouldn’t be here today.”

“Mm,” Zhu Ju nodded.

“And how have I treated you?”

“The Young Master has given me great benefits, a place to stay, and has always been fair,” Yangg Yi said in a low voice.

“I am eternally grateful!”

“Well said. It seems you’re a sensible person.” Zhu Ju leaned forward.

“I don’t ask for you to repay me, but I also don’t want my family to face danger because of you. Everyone has to make choices.”

“Do you understand?”

“…” Yangg Yi knelt, trembling, his voice laced with struggle,

“I understand!”

“Miss.”

He rose slowly, turning his head to avoid Zhu Ying’s gaze as he spoke in a low voice,

“It was I who acted on impulse, presumptuously hoping to win your affection. Only now, after the Young Master’s guidance, have I come to my senses.”

“I hope you won’t take anything I’ve done recently to heart. I was momentarily foolish.”

“Yangg Yi,” Zhu Ying’s voice trembled.

“You… what do you mean by that?”

‘What about our vows of eternal love? What about the solemn promises you made to me?’

“Yangg Yi!”

Zhu Ying screamed,

“What are you doing?”

Her disposition had always been gentle. Even when wronged, she would only sob quietly and had never once raised her voice like this.

This time, however,

she had somewhat lost control.

“I’m sorry, Miss.”

Yangg Yi stepped back.

“I will take my leave.”

Watching Yangg Yi back out of the room step by step, slowly but without a hint of hesitation, Zhu Ying collapsed to the floor.

After a long while,

she finally looked up at Zhu Ju, her eyes filled with tears.

“Brother, why?”

“I could tell you I’m doing this for your own good, but I doubt you’d believe me,” Zhu Ju said, his voice indifferent.

“But the fact is…”

“Compared to the promises he made you, he clearly values his own secret more.”

“…” Zhu Ying clenched her teeth.

“Then what is his real surname?”

“Why won’t you let us be together?”

“I never said I wouldn’t allow you to be together. The choice was Yangg Yi’s,” Zhu Ju said.

“If he had chosen you, I wouldn’t have objected. I would have even helped cover for him, just as I have been all these years. But he didn’t choose you.”

“That’s enough.”

He waved his sleeve dismissively.

“Yangg Yi’s real name is none of your concern. You may go. Your mother has been waiting in the back for a long time. Don’t make her anxious. An adult should know who they ought to cherish.”

Zhu Ying’s fists were clenched so tightly that her veins bulged.

…

“Daughter.”

Aunt Liuu sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the pale, listless Zhu Ying.

“There are plenty of good men in this world. Yangg Yi is just a Nursing Home in our mansion. I can find you a whole bunch of men like him anytime.”

“Oh, right.”

“Yangg Yi won’t be coming to bother you anymore, will he?”

Zhu Ying looked up, her expression complex. After a pause, she slowly nodded.

“Mm-hmm.”

“That’s great!”

Aunt Liuu looked Joyful and clapped her hands lightly.

“Your big brother is so decisive. Did he just give that Yangg fellow a good beating?”

“Someone like him absolutely can’t be allowed to work in the mansion anymore. How dare he have designs on the master’s daughter.”

“Mother!” Zhu Ying pulled the covers over her head and said in a muffled voice,

“I want to be alone for a bit.”

“Oh, don’t be like that!” Aunt Liuu frowned.

“I’m not finished talking.”

“Your brother’s intention is for you to practice your Martial Arts diligently and try to reach the Seventh Grade before you’re thirty. When that time comes, he’ll help you acquire a better legacy technique, and then you can do whatever you want.”

“Sigh!”

She sighed and said,

“Reaching the Seventh Grade before thirty is not that easy. Besides, what does a girl need such powerful Martial Arts for? If you’re not married by thirty, you’ll become an old maid. People will laugh at you.”

“What I mean is…”

“I’ll find a matchmaker and arrange a marriage for you soon. Marrying a good husband is more important than anything.”

Zhu Ying pulled back the covers, revealing her tear-filled eyes.

These two choices represented two different paths in life, each reflecting a different philosophy.

Zhu Ju was clearly used to taking control of everything, striving and struggling to keep it.

Aunt Liuu, on the other hand, placed her hopes in others—a choice many women made.

As for Zhu Ying…

She was momentarily at a loss.

To take control of her own life, she had no confidence in her Talent for Martial Arts, nor did she have the personality to endure hardship.

But as for an arranged marriage…

She felt completely unwilling.

*

*

*

“Giddy-up!”

“Giddy-up!”

Hoofbeats thundered, kicking up clouds of dust.

SWOOSH!

A cold glint of light shot out from the dense woods beside the road, aimed straight for the rider on horseback.

CLANG…

Yangg Yi swung his Longsword to block the attack, the force of the impact knocking him from his horse.

“Qian Hu?”

“Hmph!”

Qian Hu’s eyes were red. Without another word, he lunged.

The gauntlets he wore were an Eighth-Grade Qi Blood Divine Weapon that Qian Shiyao had gone to great lengths to buy for him.

They contained the Tiger Evil.

“ROAR!”

Qian Hu pounced like a fierce tiger, his aura so powerful that Yangg Yi had no choice but to face him seriously.

Channeling his Fire Separation Mysterious Skill, his Longsword turned crimson as it clashed repeatedly with the incoming fists.

Both of them had an Eighth-Grade Cultivation.

Yangg Yi’s cultivated Method was impressive, and Qian Hu possessed a special bloodline. For a time, they were evenly matched.

“Hah!”

With a flash of movement, a faint halo of light flickered in Qian Hu’s eyes. Six masses of Yin Qi suddenly appeared and then merged into his body.

Chong Ghost!

Aided by the Yin Qi of the Chong Ghost, his Cultivation and strength surged dramatically.

He now had the air of a Seventh-Grade Martial Artist.

Yangg Yi’s eyes narrowed. No longer daring to hold back, he stretched out a hand and summoned the Qi Blood Divine Weapon he had been nurturing in his Dantian. Instantly, a Fierce Flame billowed out, surging toward the charging Qian Hu.

“That’s enough!”

“I know you like Yingying, but even without me in the picture, she could never like you.”

“You waste!” Qian Hu panted, glaring furiously.

“All you do is make the Miss angry.”

“…” Yangg Yi gave a bitter smile.

“You’re right. I am useless. Did you chase me all this way just to beat me up and vent Yingying’s anger for her?”

“Where are you going?” Qian Hu hesitated for a moment, then slowly retracted the Chong Ghost. He pursed his lips and asked,

“Will we see each other again?”

“Mang Mountain,” Yangg Yi said.

“I have an uncle there, and also some things my father left behind.”

“Mang Mountain?” Qian Hu frowned.

“That place… is very dangerous.”

“Are you worried about me?” Yangg Yi chuckled and waved his hand.

“Don’t worry, I won’t die that easily.”

“Also…”

“Yingying has always seen you as a little brother.”

“I know.” Qian Hu’s expression shifted, and he finally sighed in resignation.

“I’m different from you. You don’t see yourself as a servant of the Zhu Mansion, which is why you had the courage to pursue Miss Zhu Ying.”

“I…”

“…am just a servant.”

“Don’t look down on yourself,” Yangg Yi said, shaking his head.

“In all of Taiyuan Prefecture, there aren’t many people I’d consider a friend. You’re one of them.”

“Your Talent…”

“…is even better than mine!”

“However, the Young Master is the one who’s truly unfathomable. There’s no way your secret can be hidden from him. I advise you to find a chance to confess it yourself.”

At this,

he couldn’t help but sigh.

‘If I had just been honest from the start, would things have ended differently today?’