Chapter 159 - Incoming Threat
"So, Milord is well and healthy, he doesn't need your concern any longer." Bei Li Yan stepped in, "Miss Tang, what else do you want to say?" he raised his chin and mocked Tang Mei Yi who's awkwardly frozen in the middle of the room. She's the only one who didn't look happy when she knew Zhao Li Xin has cured, even Jiang An Yi looked relief.
"I…" she still can't comprehend the situation yet.
"If you have nothing else, you should leave," Bei Li Yan mercilessly drives her out, "You might not notice it but you have displeased a lot of people in this room, even the kind one." he glances at Lory who still looks upset.
"Mong Yi, show Miss Tang the way out," Zhao Li Xin didn't bother to sugarcoat his words, he's too eager to get rid of anything that can anger his beloved princess.
Tang Mei Yi was stunned, "Wait… How could you… Brother Zhao!" she can't believe he's treating her this way, for better or worse, they have known each other for nearly a decade, how could he be so cruel to her?
"It's Lord Zhao for you." he corrected her.
Tang Mei Yi was shocked, her pretty face crestfallen, she looked at Tian Meng Ji, pleading for help but he can't save her, after what she said about Jiu Yun Sect, he was already very much disappointed with her. How could she be so cruel? He heard that the three elders of Jiu Yun Sect raised Li Mo Zhen after his parents, the previous leader, died.
The three elders loved Li Mo Zhen like their own son that they didn't even get married because they were afraid that someday their children or their wife would hurt Li Mo Zhen for the sect leader position.
But Tang Mei Yi wants to use their deep affection to hurt them, it was outrageous and shallow. How could she even think about that? Tian Meng Ji starts seeing her in a different perspective.
"You should leave Mei Yi; I will talk about this with your master," Tian Meng Ji sighs.
As if she had lost her last hope, she balls her fist and stomped her feet out from Zhao Li Xin's villa with Mong Yi escorting her. Bei Li Yan stifles while Jiang An Yi was stunned, she never thought Tang Mei Yi would act this way, she always saw her as a graceful and gentle young lady but she never would have guessed Tang Mei Yi can be unscrupulous and cruel.
'There's another side in every stories.'
That's what Lory said to her, perhaps she needs to open her mind and stop being biased over Tang Mei Yi, Jiang An Yi feels that the cloud hovering over her slowly disappeared, this time she will make her own judgment without anyone interfering.
Meanwhile, Lory was not aware of what other people thought, her mind was filled with the problem of Jiu Yun Sect matters, Zhao Li Xin noticed her mood was still low.
"What's wrong?" he held her hand gently.
Everyone was already used to this but Tian Meng Ji, Jiang An Yi, and Jian Jing Wei were shocked, they never thought that a gentle voice can come from their Lord.
"This Li Mo Zhen's fiancée… Can we meet her? Because of Tang Mei Yi, they might feel hopeful, if we don't help them because of her lies…" Lory breathes heavily. No one knows better than her what it feels to see the one you love dying right in front of your eyes. The pain, the hopelessness and the rage that will slowly eat you from within… No one knows them better than her.
"You want to help them?" Zhao Li Xin tugs her hair behind her ear, her sadness clearly shown on her face.
"Can we?" she knows she had no power to help; it all depends on Zhao Li Xin.
"Of course. Whatever you wish." he smiled dotingly while caressing her cheek, he will do anything to get rid of the sadness in her face.
"Thank you." she smiles at Zhao Li Xin, "I will trouble you, Brother Jin." Lory was earnestly thankful for Jin Hao too.
Jin Hao had no problem with it if Zhao Li Xin asked him and he was also curious about this mysterious illness, he raised his cup to Lory to show her he had no problem with it.
The atmosphere inside the room became warm, Tian Meng Ji shakes his head weakly, he realized Tang Mei Yi had no chance to win over Luo Ri Yi. Well, if you can't beat them, joined them! Tian Meng Ji decided to approve this woman, not that his approval matter though.
"Mong Ki, find this fiancée of Li Mo Zhen, invite her to come," said Zhao Li Xin.
"Yes, Milord!" he cupped his fist before he left.
"If we can help them, we'll help but if we can't… We will have to tell them the truth so they can find help somewhere else," Lory took a long deep breath, she genuinely wishes she can help them because she knows the pain of losing someone you love.
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The sect location is on top of Hung Zi Mountain, that's why they called the sect Jiu Yun (Nine clouds), the place is so high up in a mountain making it seem like they're hiding behind the clouds. Unlike the other sects who chase after power, wealth and fame, Jiu Yun Sect prefers to be left alone especially after the death of Li Mo Zhen's father. At that time, Jiu Yun Sect is on their peak, but after the death of the Sect Leader and his wife, the sect block their connection from the outsiders.
So, it was surprising for Li Mo Zhen to take Yang Xi Ying, the governor of Sun Jan City's daughter, as his wife, especially when there are so many rumors around her because of Han Yuan.
"Oh, I remember!" Lory hit the table excitedly, "Isn't he the jerk we met once? Li Xin cuts his finger!" she then remembered the pretty lady they met that day.
"Yes, she is the same lady we met before, Yang Xi Ying," said Mong Yi while serving a bowl of sweet red bean soup for her.
"Oh, I also heard about that," Bei Li Yan scooped another bowl of soup for himself.
Today, they all had lunch together at Zhao Li Xin's villa. Everyone gathered in the dining hall; at last, the big round table has been used properly. Except for Tang Mei Yi, everyone dined together. Tian Meng Ji got excited, he had never had such a lively lunch with his disciple before because Zhao Li Xin prefers calm and quiet, just like a cemetery.
"You've met with Han Yuan?" Jiang Jin Wei also got curious.
Lory nods her head, "He fought with Yang Xi Ying at that time, then one thing led to another, he starts mocking me and Li Xin."
All of them look at Zhao Li Xin simultaneously then let out an 'aah', now they understand why Han Yuan fell that far that even the White Moon Tower fell with him.
"So that's how Lao Min Na became the adoptive daughter of White Moon Tower," Bei Li Yan murmured.
"But how did Lao Min Na come to know this?" Lory frown while putting a piece of meat on Zhao Li Xin's plate.
Bei Li Yan wiped his mouth with a clean cloth before continuing, "After what happened with Han Yuan, the White Moon Tower panicked because he messed with Hei Shen," he gave an obvious look, "Even before that, the White Moon Tower was already divided between elders just like what we had discussed earlier on."
Lory did remember Bei Li Yan saying something about the elder's power inside every sect and how they can influence them. Lory nodded, "Got it."
"The Master of that Han yuan is one of the supporters of an influential elder, so someone used this opportunity to discredit that elder. Of course, the elder wouldn't back out without a fight, he made Han Yuan the scapegoat, he kicked him out of White Moon Tower and abolished the position of Han Yuan's master," Bei Li Yan took a mouthful of tea.
"So, the White Moon Tower Sect got messier," Lory sigh, their meeting with Han Yuan was only an accident, who knew it would become like this, "So how did Lao Min Na got involve to this? Li Xin, get me some pickles." she nudged Zhao Li Xin's arms.
Zhao Li Xin puts the small plate of pickles in front of her, another gesture that made Tian Meng Ji envious.
"Lao Min Na, with her great talent in alchemy, and being a not-so-bad cultivator, plus her excellent background as Zhao Yi Chen's fiancée helped the Sect Leader of White Moon Tower Sect to raise his cultivation, at the same time killing all the rebellious elder which made the White Moon Tower, who's almost destroyed, back to life. He owes so much debt to Lao Min Na, he praised her talent. Coincidently, he also didn't have an heir, so he took Lao Min Na as his adoptive daughter." Bei Li Yan took a bite of the last sour pork meat on the table before Jiang Jin Wei did.
Jiang Jin Wei's hand froze mid-air, he gave Bei Li Yan stinky eyes which he ignored, "Lao Min Na became the sole heir of the sect, she has the same authority of the leader himself," Jiang Jin Wei puts down his chopstick.
"Don't forget she also created Immortal Tower." Jin Hao finished his meal.
"What's wrong with her and the tower?" Lory mutter to herself.
"She merged both the sect and became the uprising power that everyone feared," Bei Li Yan sneered.
"She's quite busy these past years," Lory also finished her meal, "I'm starting to think that being an Empress of Jiang Wei Kingdom might not be enough for her," Lory eyebrows furrows.
"Do you think she's preparing to go against us?" Lory glanced at Zhao Li Xin.
Zhao Li Xin smiled, "She is."