Shi Yu looked up and immediately caught sight of Mo Yuan’s schadenfreude. He gave a light cough. “Nothing happened last night, right?”
His gaze was razor-sharp, fixed intently on Mo Yuan as if warning him that if he dared to answer with anything other than a “yes,” he would face severe sanctions the next second.
Mo Yuan hurriedly suppressed the triumphant look on his face, his expression becoming solemn. “Of course. A-Yu did nothing.”
Satisfied, Shi Yu withdrew his gaze. Just then, a commotion erupted outside.
“What is happening outside?”
Shi Yu looked toward the window, listening to the noisy clamor. It sounded like quite a number of people had arrived.
Mo Yuan walked to the window first and looked out. He saw a well-disciplined column of soldiers marching slowly.
“Your good younger brother has arrived.”
The corners of Mo Yuan’s mouth curled up. His eyes, as if watching a lamb walk into a trap, betrayed a hint of craftiness.
Shi Yu also walked to the window, looking down at the person riding a tall steed. This person’s appearance had changed slightly compared to his memories, but the resemblance was still evident.
“Hmm. It is him.”
“Has A-Yu decided how to handle this?”
Mo Yuan closed the window, blocking Shi Yu’s line of sight.
“Regardless of anything, he should not have become like this.”
Shi Yu said calmly. In his mind, scenes from his childhood flickered, and a sense of sorrow welled up in his heart.
Back then, the child was innocent and pure. He would follow behind him calling “brother” sweetly, constantly worrying about saving fun trinkets for his brother, and fretting over whether his brother would be hungry or in pain whenever he was punished. Yet, looking at him now, that innocent child no longer existed, leaving behind only this youth blinded by greed and desire.
“Why should A-Yu be sad for this? He is no longer an innocent person.”
Mo Yuan stared at Shi Yu’s despondent expression, a trace of heartache and anger flickering in his peach-blossom eyes.
Shi Yu tried to compose himself. He looked up, meeting Mo Yuan’s eyes directly, his decision made.
“They must have discovered that the villagers were saved. Let us go back.”
Shi Yu took out the token he had found earlier and walked toward the outside.
Meanwhile, just as Shi Yi’s troop arrived at the village entrance, he caught sight of the servant sent to keep watch lying slumped beside a dead tree.
“What happened?” Shi Yi pointed at the man, questioning him sternly.
“Your Highness, please stay calm. Let Night Owl go and take a look.”
The servant who called himself Night Owl bowed respectfully. Once Shi Yi nodded in agreement, he dismounted to inspect the situation. Night Owl walked over to the man and gave his limp body a hard kick, causing the servant to slowly wake up.
As soon as the servant woke, he knelt before Shi Yi, knocking his head against the ground repeatedly to beg for mercy. “Your Highness, this subordinate has failed your trust. Please, Your Highness, show mercy! Forgive me, Your Highness!”
Hearing the servant’s reply, fury instantly surfaced on Shi Yi’s face. With a ruthless glare, he stared directly at Night Owl. Night Owl immediately understood his meaning. He raised his hand, drew his sword, and executed the servant on the spot.
Shi Yi looked at the corpse, his emotions seemingly calmed, and he spoke coldly.
“Night Owl, go and investigate who is responsible for this.”
“Night Owl acknowledges the order.”
The man bowed respectfully, picked up the body, and vanished in a flash of movement. Shi Yi withdrew his cold gaze and signaled for the troop to proceed.
Shortly after the troop departed, Shi Yu and Mo Yuan arrived at the village entrance. Mo Yuan stared at the empty space beside the dead tree, a flash of sharp light passing through his eyes.
“It seems the prey has taken the bait.”
Shi Yu appeared exceptionally steady and composed. He said calmly, “Let us go inside and see.”
The army led by Shi Yi had already taken control of the area. As soon as Shi Yu and Mo Yuan stepped into the village, they were intercepted.
“Who are you? This place has been ordered under lockdown. No unauthorized personnel may enter.”
Mo Yuan looked at the two soldiers, his expression stern. He took out his sect jade pendant from his robe and showed it to them. The two men immediately lowered their spears and bowed respectfully.
“Forgive us, Celestial Officials from the Lingxi Sect. We were blind and did not recognize you.”
“Can we enter now?” Mo Yuan asked with an indifferent tone.
“Naturally. Celestial Officials may move freely through anywhere except the Yunlan Royal City,” the two soldiers replied, trembling with fear.
Shi Yu glanced ahead, frowned slightly, and urged in a flat tone, “Senior Brother, let us go.”
Mo Yuan immediately withdrew his hand and followed silently behind Shi Yu.
The two soldiers remained behind, whispering to each other. “How many people from the Lingxi Sect have actually come this time? There are so many already, and now two more have arrived.”
“Who knows? But just now, seeing the expression on His Highness’s face when he saw them, he seemed very displeased.”
“Heh, our His Highness was counting on this disaster relief to gain merit. Now that these Celestial Officials have intervened, how could he be happy?”
“The two who just went in do not look like ordinary officials. I fear it will not be peaceful for a while.”
“These are not things we should worry about. Quickly go back to your posts! If we provoke His Highness’s temper later, we will be in for it.”
Seemingly reminded of some terrible punishment, the two men’s faces changed in horror. They hurried back to their original posts, straightening their posture and not daring to show the slightest negligence.
By this time, Shi Yu and Mo Yuan had been led by a guard to the room temporarily occupied by Shi Yi. Shi Yi narrowed his eyes as he looked at the two. He did not seem to recognize that Shi Yu was his brother, his tone indifferent.
“Two Celestial Officials have come here, presumably for the sake of the plague. Other officials are already providing treatment. On behalf of the people of Lan’nan County, Shi Yi thanks the Lingxi Sect for their assistance.”
Shi Yi stood up and bowed to the two, his posture respectful, showing no trace of his previous ruthlessness.
“Your Highness is too kind. Saving lives and healing the wounded is the duty of the Lingxi Sect.”
Mo Yuan’s eyes held a hint of arrogance, though his tone was low and calm.
Shi Yu, meanwhile, had been studying his younger brother carefully, as if trying to find some trace of the person from his memories deep within his soul. However, there was nothing. Aside from his appearance, this person possessed none of the innocent and simple nature he remembered.
Shi Yu suddenly felt deeply disappointed. After bowing to Shi Yi, he prepared to leave.
“Our fellow disciples still need our assistance. I hope Your Highness will forgive us. Farewell.”
Mo Yuan, noticing that something was wrong with Shi Yu’s mood, followed him out.
“A-Yu, are you still unable to accept it?”
Mo Yuan pulled on Shi Yu, who was walking away in a hurry, and asked with concern.
Shi Yu found his current mood difficult to describe. He had clearly prepared himself mentally, yet upon seeing him in person, he found it hard to accept. That feeling did not originate from himself, yet it stung his heart so deeply.
“Do you know, Senior Brother? A-Yi is my only younger brother. He was very well-behaved when he was young. Even when his birth mother was hostile toward me and my mother, he never distanced himself from me. I still refuse to believe he would become what he is today.”
Shi Yu described his brother from the past as if those days had long since passed. Mo Yuan heard his words, and his peach-blossom eyes held a touch of heartache, yet he still reminded Shi Yu, “If A-Yu does not believe it, then we must find the real him.”
Shi Yu was startled by these words. He turned to look at Mo Yuan and saw a look of certainty in his eyes.
“You mean, he is not A-Yi?”
Mo Yuan curled his lips into a smile, his expression meaningful. “To be precise, the body is, but the soul… is not!”
Only then did Shi Yu begin to recall the details he had overlooked because his emotions had gotten the better of him. His own appearance had not changed significantly from several years ago, and he still looked quite similar; there was no way A-Yi could not recognize him.
At this thought, Shi Yu’s ink-colored eyes trembled slightly.