Chu Ruoyan nodded slightly, "I remember. You said she was drowned in a vat of syrup..."
"That was a lie. My younger sister's name was Yun Miao. She was lost when she was two and a half years old on a trip back to our hometown." Yun Lang seemed to recall an extremely painful memory, his hands trembling slightly. "That year, that man took my mother and us siblings back to the Western Frontier to visit our grandparents. But we were ambushed on the way. My mother was severely injured, and my elder brother protected me and my sister as we escaped. Then he went to lure away the pursuers..."
"He was my twin—how much older could he have been? I couldn’t bear to let him go alone, so I entrusted my sister to my mother’s maid. But when I returned, they were gone... Everyone was gone. Only blood remained, pools of it... and this longevity lock that hung around my sister’s neck..."
Slowly, he pulled out a longevity lock from his chest—pure gold, but stained with dark red.
Chu Ruoyan’s heart lurched, a strange familiarity washing over her. "This is..."
She reached out and lightly touched it. Yun Lang’s peach-blossom eyes misted over before he spoke firmly, word by word: "It’s your longevity lock, Miao Miao."
Miao Miao.
Yun Miao.
Deep in her memories, it seemed someone had once called her that name with endless tenderness, over and over again.
A surge of unfamiliar emotion welled up inside Chu Ruoyan, only to be swiftly replaced by the echoes of "Yan’er"—each one a stabbing pain that made her double over, clutching her chest.
"Ah Yan!"
Yan Zheng noticed something was wrong and rushed forward to steady her. Yun Lang barked, "Fetch the old master!"
The carriage raced like the wind to Bai Xiao Pavilion.
Qin Yiru grumbled as he checked her pulse, then waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing serious. It’s just that her heart meridian is weak from the Butterfly Dream of Zhuangzi poison. She can’t handle extreme joy or sorrow..."
Only then did the two men relax. Just as Yun Lang was about to speak, Shopkeeper Du hurried forward. "Pavilion Master, urgent news!"
"Whatever it is, it can wait. Yan Zheng, help Miao Miao inside first."
Yun Lang turned to enter, but Shopkeeper Du gritted his teeth and knelt before him. "Pavilion Master, this matter concerns the Third Young Lady!"
At those words, Yun Lang’s expression turned grave. He reached out and took the missive.
But the next moment, he roared, "This is impossible!"
Shopkeeper Du said solemnly, "This intelligence comes from 'Tian Shu,' personally trained by you. There is no falsehood in it! County Princess Changle... is not the Third Young Lady!"
The declaration stunned not only Qin Yiru but also Yan Zheng, who looked up sharply.
Yet Yun Lang’s face twisted through a series of emotions as he clutched the missive. "Impossible! If she isn’t Miao Miao, then what about Frost Snow Sword? Why would Wen Changyan give her that man’s sword?!"
Shopkeeper Du replied, "Tian Shu reports that the Third Young Lady once visited the Chu Duke’s residence. Perhaps Master Wen also mistook her for the real one and thus gifted the sword..."
"Nonsense! What about Mother’s blood jade bracelet? How do you explain that?!"
"According to Tian Shu, the Third Young Lady was taken to the Chu Duke’s residence by the princess’s maid for refuge. The blood jade bracelet might have been left there at that time. Pavilion Master, if you don’t believe it, have you forgotten? The Third Young Lady had a butterfly-shaped birthmark on the back of her neck—something well-known among the Yun family!"
Yun Lang’s face paled. In an instant, he lunged forward to verify.
Yan Zheng struck out with his palm, forcing him back. "No need to look. She doesn’t have one."
Yun Lang’s eyes burned crimson as he spat out each word, "I. Don’t. Believe. It."
After makeup, she looked exactly like Mother!
Even Aunt Fang had said she’d never seen anyone so similar!
How could she not be Miao Miao?
How could she not be his little sister?
Leaning weakly against Yan Zheng, Chu Ruoyan whispered, "Pavilion Master, there truly is no birthmark on my neck. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself..." She lifted her hair, exposing the back of her neck. Everyone except Yun Lang and Yan Zheng averted their eyes.
Yun Lang stepped forward, his gaze fixed.
The skin was smooth as jade—no butterfly-shaped mark in sight.
It was as if thunder had struck him. He staggered back several steps, his devilishly handsome face now ghastly pale, more terrifying than a vengeful ghost.
Chu Ruoyan’s heart ached, but since she wasn’t his real sister, what comfort could she offer?
Biting her lip, she murmured, "I’m sorry... to disappoint you."
"NO!!!"
Yun Lang bellowed, his mouth twisting before he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Pavilion Master!"
"Pavilion Master!"
"Lang!"
The Bai Xiao Pavilion members rushed forward, only to be flung back by a gust of his energy. A flash of red, and he seized Shopkeeper Du by the throat, lifting him off the ground. "Then where is Miao Miao?! Where is she?!"
Shopkeeper Du’s face turned from blue to purple, gasping for air.
Qin Yiru shouted, "Lang! Have you lost your mind?! You’ll kill him!"
But Yun Lang was beyond reason, his eyes blood-red. "Where is Miao Miao?! WHERE?!"
The scene horrified everyone. Yan Zheng said grimly, "He’s lost control—qi deviation."
Who could have imagined that the illustrious Pavilion Master of Bai Xiao Pavilion would lose his mind over news of his sister?
Qin Yiru stomped his foot. "Pull him away! I’ll need to apply needles again!"
The Bai Xiao Pavilion members charged, but they were no match for Yun Lang.
His red robes flared as he sent them flying with a sweep of his arm.
Shopkeeper Du’s eyes rolled back, on the verge of death. Yan Zheng raised his palm, ready to intervene, when a soft voice whispered beside him: "Second Brother..."
Frowning, he looked down to see the woman biting her lip before speaking again.
Yun Lang whirled around, his gaze locking onto her.
She continued softly, "Second Brother... let him go, please?"
The entire hall held its breath.
Everyone prayed those words would bring him back.
Yan Zheng tightened his hold on her, ready to whisk her away if Yun Lang lashed out.
Then—
Thud!
Yun Lang finally released his grip. Shopkeeper Du collapsed to the ground.
Qin Yiru rushed over to check his pulse. "Thank heavens... the King of Hell left him a breath."
The tension in the room eased slightly. But when they turned back to Yun Lang, he took two unsteady steps toward Chu Ruoyan before his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.
"Lang—" Chu Ruoyan’s voice caught in her throat.
Since it was all a misunderstanding, it was best not to prolong the pain.
She glanced at Yan Zheng, who understood. He helped her into the carriage without another word.
That night had been harrowing. Watching her pale face nestled against his chest, Yan Zheng couldn’t help but worry. "Ah Yan, are you alright?"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head, nestling closer. "I’m fine. It’s just... seeing someone so extraordinary reduced to such a state... it hurts."
Yan Zheng sighed softly. "Years of searching, only to have it all shattered in an instant—no one could endure that unscathed."
Chu Ruoyan murmured, "Yes... Who would have thought it was all a misunderstanding? From now on..."
Before she could finish, Yan Zheng understood. "From now on, avoid Bai Xiao Pavilion if you can. If you must send word, have someone else deliver it."
