MOF Chapter 46

Chapter 46: The Reclusive Liu and the Secluded Mo; Autumn Winds Do Not Recognize the Path Down the Mountain…

Mo Wuchou had been guarding the door of the forbidden chamber for almost an entire day. Since the rain stopped, he had remained rooted to the spot.

“Wuchou,” Si Wumian approached with long strides, his hand on his sword, “You haven’t slept all night?” He had thought the man would only stand for a short while before returning, but unexpectedly, he had stood there all night.

Mo Wuchou didn’t bother to hide it, “I’m not tired.”

Si Wumian looked unconvinced. “You can’t just stand here like this. Times are different now. I’ll go get you something to eat!” With that, he strode away again, carried by the morning breeze, just as he had come.

The words Mo Wuchou wanted to say were trampled flat by Si Wumian’s footsteps.

Suddenly, there was movement behind him. Mo Wuchou quickly turned around and saw the door of the forbidden chamber opening from the inside.

Liu Weiyuan slowly walked out of the forbidden chamber, his expression unchanged, but his breathing was much slower.

“Uncle!” Mo Wuchou hurried forward, “How are you?”

“It’s nothing serious.” Liu Weiyuan shook his head and smiled at him, “Go and see Linyuan, but be prepared. Although I’ve healed him, I’m afraid he can’t fully return to what he was before. Go in, I need to return to White Bone Mountain to recuperate.”

Mo Wuchou was a little worried and followed him a few steps. “Uncle, let me see you back.”

Liu Weiyuan’s usually cold and aloof eyes softened a little. “I’m not so incapable that I can’t return home on my own.”

Mo Wuchou’s heart was suddenly pierced by these words, aching slightly. To be precise, it was pierced by the word “home”.

Yes, Liu Weiyuan had his own home. Even though they were uncle and nephew, he was naturally inclined to be independent and didn’t pursue family reunions. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left home for so many years without returning.

Family affection was like an old guest in one’s memory; after a brief warmth, there was a lasting ache.

“Okay.” Mo Wuchou heard his own voice. “Uncle, be careful on the road.”

Liu Weiyuan was unwilling to linger here; perhaps he preferred the company of the strange flowers and medicinal herbs he cultivated.

Mo Wuchou followed behind Liu Weiyuan, seeing him off for a distance. He stood at the crossroads leading out of Cang Ling Du, watching the figure in azure robes walk down the mountain.

His steps were light and steady, gradually disappearing from Mo Wuchou’s sight.

Si Wumian returned from the kitchen, carrying two soft, fragrant steamed buns wrapped in cloth. When he returned to the forbidden chamber, he saw Mo Wuchou still standing at the door.

However, the door to the forbidden chamber had already been opened.

“Where’s Young Master Liu?” Si Wumian asked as he approached.

Mo Wuchou’s face held a hint of confusion. He looked up at Si Wumian, and after a moment, said, “Uncle, he’s already left.”

“Left?” Si Wumian was a little surprised. “Why did he leave so hastily? How is the Third Young Master Mo?”

Mo Wuchou looked at Si Wumian’s worried face, meeting his clear and pure eyes, and inexplicably revealed a touch of vulnerability. “I don’t dare to look.”

“What’s there to be afraid of!” Si Wumian stuffed a bun into his hand. “I’ll go with you. Maybe Third Young Master Mo is also hungry. You brothers can each have one.”

He pushed Mo Wuchou into the forbidden chamber and saw the person sitting quietly on the ground.

The iron chains lay scattered on the floor, and Mo Linyuan was completely free of restraints. The biggest change was his hands, which had originally had extremely long, curved nails, but now they had become like those of an ordinary person.

“Ah Yao?” Mo Wuchou’s voice was very low, as if afraid of frightening him.

Hearing the sound, Mo Linyuan turned his head blankly. His previously white pupils had also become clear and distinct, but they were too clear, giving the illusion that he was a child.

Mo Linyuan was so thin that he was almost inhuman, and every movement made onlookers feel terrified, worrying that he would fall apart. Mo Wuchou’s eyes were a little hot. He observed his younger brother in front of him, and carefully handed out the bun in his hand, “Are you hungry?”

“Ah?” The person in front of him made his first sound. He tilted his head, his gaze falling on the bun in Mo Wuchou’s hand.

Mo Linyuan moved closer and curiously sniffed the thing in Mo Wuchou’s hand with his nose, then his throat couldn’t help but slide up and down, and he opened his mouth to take a bite.

Si Wumian and Mo Wuchou exchanged glances, their hearts filled with complex emotions.

Mo Linyuan finished the entire bun held in Mo Wuchou’s hand, then his gaze shifted and fell on Si Wumian’s hand.

“Ah?” he uttered his second sound.

Si Wumian understood instantly, understanding what the other party meant. He gently placed the bun in Mo Linyuan’s hand, and saw Mo Linyuan reveal a silly smile as he held the bun.

“Third Young Master Mo seems to be a little mentally unsound?” Si Wumian said, struggling with the words.

Mo Wuchou shook his head. “No. Uncle said that although Linyuan has been healed, it is difficult for him to return to the way he was before. His golden core was destroyed, and his spiritual consciousness was also cruelly tortured, so his mind was damaged, and it probably can’t be recovered.”

After hearing this, Si Wumian was silent for a long time, before saying, “It’s good that he’s safe.”

“Yes.” Mo Wuchou looked tenderly at Mo Linyuan, who was buried in eating, and repeated, “It’s good that he’s safe.”

Liu Weiyuan left Cang Ling Du, exited Shuo City, and walked towards White Bone Mountain. Perhaps it was because of the autumn rain last night, but it was especially cold today. He walked very slowly, feeling his body become more and more tired as he went.

Liu Weiyuan raised his hand, his palm gently approaching his abdomen. The place where the golden core had been stored was now empty. He smiled and continued forward without regret.

The autumn wind blew his hair, ruthlessly tearing through his disguise. His hair, which had originally been as black as ink, was now half black and half white. And the white part was slowly swallowing the black half, greedily wanting to merge into one.

Liu Weiyuan knew that his relationship with the Mo family was over. From now on, on the three thousand miles of the Great Dao, there would only be the Qingyi Sanren (Azure-Robed Wanderer), and no longer the divine doctor Liu Jing.

The autumn wind does not recognize the path up the mountain.

Looking out, on the ancient road, there was only a man in azure robes with a mix of youthful and aged features, leisurely heading towards the green mountains.

*

The evil energy on Mo Linyuan’s body had completely disappeared. On the contrary, he now looked at everything with a novel and pure appearance, his whole person like a fairy who had attained enlightenment.

“Come, Third Young Master Mo.” Si Wumian made a flower out of leaves and handed it to Mo Linyuan, teaching him to recognize it. “This is a ginkgo.”

Mo Wuchou watched the two of them playing happily, and couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth, but his heart was still heavy, concerned about Liu Weiyuan.

“That one is your brother.” Si Wumian pointed to Mo Wuchou not far away. “Third Young Master Mo, say ‘brother’ with me—”

Mo Linyuan looked at him, and after a long time, squeezed out a sound: “Ah?”

“Not ‘ah’, it’s ‘brother’—”

“Wumian.” Mo Wuchou suddenly called him.

“What is it?” Si Wumian quickly asked.

Mo Wuchou was a little melancholy. The loneliness in his body had dissipated a lot because of the reunion with Mo Linyuan, but it would still occasionally be revealed.

For example, now, Si Wumian felt that if Mo Wuchou didn’t express his inner emotions, he would probably turn into loneliness itself.

“I don’t know where to take Ah Yao,” Mo Wuchou finally opened his mouth. “Mo City has been completely destroyed, and it is no longer possible to rebuild it. So I thought, first find a place to settle down and take good care of Ah Yao.”

As soon as Si Wumian heard this, an idea instantly popped into his head. “Hey, why don’t you come back to Southern Return with me!”

His smile was bright and his tone was full of anticipation. “Southern Return hasn’t recruited new disciples for almost two years, and I’m extremely bored every day. If you go there, you can cultivate the Dao, take care of Third Young Master, and be with me, wouldn’t that be killing three birds with one stone?”

Mo Wuchou didn’t know what his mood was at the moment. After Mo City was destroyed, he drifted around, and even though he had seen the bones of the entire city with his own eyes, he stubbornly believed that there must still be relatives in the world.

It was originally a dream woven by a fool for himself, until he met Si Wumian.

He wanted relatives, and Si Wumian brought him to see Mo Linyuan. He wanted a home, and Si Wumian said he would take him back to Southern Return.

“Don’t worry, our Southern Return will definitely not mistreat you and Third Young Master Mo!” Si Wumian became more and more excited as he spoke. “By the way, the food in Southern Return is so delicious! There’s also a peach forest on the back mountain, and when spring comes, the mountains are full of peach blossoms, it’s extremely beautiful! There’s a stream at the foot of the mountain, and we can occasionally go to the stream to catch fish, and the sect leader and the others won’t say anything. I remember before…”

As he said this, he suddenly paused, seemingly unable to remember which disciple it was, “Anyway, it’s just which disciple of Southern Return often goes to catch fish after practicing their skills.”

Si Wumian said this, and seeing that Mo Wuchou didn’t show any joy, he gradually calmed down his excited tone. “However, Wuchou, if you don’t want to go to Southern Return, I can also help you find another place…”

“There’s no unwillingness.” Mo Wuchou replied, “Wumian, thank you.”

“Thank you for what!” Si Wumian immediately smiled, patted Mo Wuchou’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, the sect leader and the others will surely be very happy to know that you are coming to Southern Return!”

Today’s sky was greyish-white, like light ink wash.

The haze in Mo Wuchou’s heart was largely swept away. He looked at Mo Linyuan, who was squatting on the ground playing with ginkgo leaves, and shouted with a smile, “Ah Yao!”

Mo Linyuan didn’t understand that this was his name, but he was easily attracted by sounds, so he turned his head.

“Let’s go.” Mo Wuchou waved to him. “We’re going home.”