Chapter 1831: "Retaliation (2)"
And how could the Shadow Moon Palace Lord not know of Elder Yue's private inclinations and perverse habits?
The matter with Yue Yi was true, and the Shadow Moon Palace Lord knew about it clearly. With that fact, Jun Wu Xie had turned this incident with Yue Ye right onto Elder Yue's head, and the credibility of her accusation increased a whole fold!
This caused Elder Yue to be unable to refute it as though the matter with Yue Yi was known to the Palace Lord, even if he did not admit it, it would only make the Palace Lord grow more suspicious.
At that moment, Elder Yue's situation became highly awkward. He could not fathom how Jun Wu Xie could remain so calm in that situation where everyone's word was against hers but she was still able to find such an opportunity to retaliate.
The shade on the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's face turned ugly. His nerves had been pricked by Jun Wu Xie's words and the gaze he looked at Elder Yue with began to be tinged with suspicion.
Chang Huan had not stirred up much trouble in the time he had been in the Shadow Moon Palace before, and besides the fact that his character had not been all that likeable, he had not done anything that strayed out of line all that much. Instead of believing that Chang Huan would have the audacity to invite trouble onto himself with Yue Ye, the Shadow Moon Palace Lord felt that the possibility of Elder Yue committing that deed was higher.
And linking that to the way that Elder Yue had been picking on Chang Huan over the recent period, the Shadow Moon Palace Lord could not help but grow suspicious of Elder Yue deep inside his heart.
Elder Yue could already read the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's eyes very well and terror filled his heart. The eyes of the Shadow Moon Palace Lord upon him clearly told him that the Palace Lord had already become suspicious of him.
"Little Ye, just what exactly happened in this incident today, tell it to the Palace Lord now!" Elder Yue had become nervous and anxious. His heart was filled with an ominous premonition. If he was unable to let the Shadow Moon Palace Lord believe that everything was all Jun Wu Xie's doing, that the big hat that he had weaved today would then fall right upon his head!
With things having turned to such a juncture, Elder Yue could do nothing but drag Yue Ye out to the front.
Hearing her name being called out by Elder Yue, Yue Ye's body trembled visibly, causing the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's heart to wince in pain to see that highly pitiful sight.
"My Lord....." Yue Ye called out weakly, further turning the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's heart into mush, unconsciously softening the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's demeanor and tone of voice.
"Little Ye, whatever aggrievement you have suffered today, just tell it to me straight. I will definitely redress it for you."
Seeing that his health was improving by the day, he only had to wait till he finished dealing with the palace's affairs and he would then be able to properly "treat dearly" this little person, but who would have thought that such an incident would suddenly crop up.
Yue Ye raised her head up to look at the Shadow Moon Palace Lord and it might be due to her feeling highly aggrieved, large bean sized teardrops brimmed up in her eyes as they fell out from the corners, her pale lips tightly pressed up together.
"Little Ye, there is no need to be afraid. The Palace Lord will seek redress for you. Just speak up." Elder Yue urged impatiently.
Yue Ye's body trembled slightly once more and the eyes that looked up at the Shadow Moon Palace Lord grew more terrified.
"My Lord..... Little Ye..... Little Ye is scared....." Yue Ye's tears trickled down her cheeks and accompanied by her trembling voice, she looked so highly pitiful that made people just want to wrap her up in an embrace, to comfort her properly.
"Little Ye, don't be afraid with me here." The Shadow Moon Palace Lord coaxed patiently.
"Little Ye does not dare to say it....." Yue Ye lowered down her head with her lips pressed tightly together.
"In this place of mine, then there is nothing for you to fear to say. Come over here to me. I'll protect you." An unbearable itch rose in the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's heart, elicited by the pitiful sight of Yue Ye and he quickly patted his hand on the space beside him to indicate for Yue Ye to go over.
Yue Ye glanced nervously at Elder Yue and Elder Yue urged her to go with his eyes.
He was highly pleased with Yue Ye's performance as the more she stirred up the Palace Lord's sympathy, the more she would be able to incite his urge to shield her. And once Yue Ye opened her mouth, no matter how Jun Wu Xie denied it, it would not be of any use.
Chapter 1832: "Retaliation (3)"
Yue Ye hesitated for a good while before she stood up and walked over slowly as she trembled to the Palace Lord's side, to stand there reservedly.
"Little Ye, now you have nothing to fear. Quickly tell me who is it that bullied you." The Shadow Moon Palace Lord resisted the powerful longing to wrap his arms around Yue Ye to say in a gentle voice.
Yue Ye bit on her lip and looked at Jun Wu Xie kneeling there in the palace hall before her eyes that was brimming with tears gazed between Jun Wu Xie and Elder Yue.
The entire enormous palace hall fell into absolute silence at that moment as everyone waited for Yue Ye's answer with bated breath.
Finally, Yue Ye drew in a deep breath and turned her head to whisper softly into the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's ear.
The Shadow Moon Palace Lord's gaze began to take on a razor sharp edge as Yue Ye continued to whisper. He did not direct his gaze towards anyone in the main hall but just furrowed up his brows tightly together, as he stared at the marble slabs on the floor.
Elder Yue's eyes were filled with smiles. He had already instructed Yue Ye on what to say to the Palace Lord and he was not worried in the slightest. He turned highly pleased with himself to look at Jun Wu Xie at the side, only awaiting the Palace Lord's rage to smite this brat, who did not know death was upon him, into ashes!
"Today's events is now clear to me." After Yue Ye finished speaking, the Shadow Moon Palace Lord drew in a deep breath and his chillingly sharp gaze fell upon the figure of Jun Wu Xie.
"Chang Huan."
In the instant that the Shadow Moon Palace Lord called out the words "Chang Huan", the smile on Elder Yue's face could almost not be disguised any longer.
"Your disciple awaits." Jun Wu Xie acknowledged calmly.
"Today, you did not see anything, nor have you heard anything. You..... can leave now." The Shadow Moon Palace Lord said suddenly, putting forth a conclusion that caused everyone's eyes to flare wide open in stare with their mouths agape.
"....." The smile on Elder Yue's face congealed in that very instant. He stared with wide incredulous eyes, at Jun Wu Xie as she slowly got up at the side, completely unable to believe his own ears!
[The Palace Lord is actually allowing Chang Huan to leave?]
[How is that possible! ?]
[At this moment, shouldn't the Palace Lord be throwing Chang Huan straight into the dungeon and executing him?]
[Why is the Palace Lord letting him leave just like that?]
With the result turning out completely different from what he expected, Elder Yue could not react at all for a moment.
"Your disciple shall accede to my Lord's orders." Jun Wu Xie's face had the same calm and collected expression from beginning till the end, indifferent and unaffected as she retreated out from the palace hall.
"The rest of you, you're all dismissed as well." The Shadow Moon Palace Lord said, chasing the other disciples out impatiently.
The disciples were all highly confused and baffled, as things were not at all happening as they had thought. All of them did not know what was happening at all, but as the Palace Lord had spoken, none of them have any more reason to remain behind, but to obediently get their behinds out of the palace hall.
Within the wide and expansive palace hall, only Elder Yue, the Shadow Moon Palace Lord and Yue Ye were left.
For a while, the Shadow Moon Palace Lord did not open his mouth at all but merely narrowed his eyes as he stared at Elder Yue whose face was completely flustered.
"Elder Yue, from now onwards, Yue Ye will stay in the palace right beside my bed chambers. She will henceforth be my direct disciple and will no longer be your granddaughter. All matters pertaining to Yue Ye after this shall be handled by me and you can go now." The Shadow Moon Palace Lord's chillingly cold voice suddenly reverberated within the palace hall, like a bolt of lightning that struck Elder Yue right onto his head.
Elder Yue looked at the Shadow Moon Palace Lord is disbelief, the words his ears heard were like the roll of endless drums, that quaked him to the core, suddenly feeling numb.
[The Palace Lord's words mean.....]
Elder Yue horrified gaze suddenly turned upon the tiny figure standing right beside the Shadow Moon Palace Lord.
[What did she tell the Palace Lord! ?]
Chapter 1833: "Retaliation (4)"
"My Lord, this....." Elder Yue was becoming rather flustered. The Shadow Moon Palace Lord's response was causing a sense of unease to surge up inside him.
Today's plan had clearly been to have Jun Wu Xie dealt with but the Palace Lord had not only let Jun Wu Xie go back safe and sound but had snatched the custody of Yue Ye away from him. What did this mean with everything that was happening?
Elder Yue was not a complete idiot and he was certain that the words Yue Ye had told the Shadow Moon Palace Lord was definitely not what he had instructed her to say before.
[Why did it turn out like this?]
[Where had he gone wrong?]
Elder Yue wanted to ask Yue Ye what she had actually said but the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's eyes were fixed glaringly upon him, completely not allowing him the slightest chance to come into any form of contact with Yue Ye. The Shadow Moon Palace Lord's decision had completely severed all ties between Elder Yue and Yue Ye and no matter how much Elder Yue wanted to get some answers from Yue Ye, it was no longer possible.
"Elder Yue. Are you feeling dissatisfied in any way towards my decision?" The Shadow Moon Palace Lord's voice turned chillier a notch.
Elder Yue was suddenly taken aback and based on how well he knew the Shadow Moon Palace Lord, he could already hear the note of impatience in the Palace Lord's words.
With that, Elder Yue really almost wanted to vomit out blood. Not only had he failed to bring down Jun Wu Xie with today's events, he had somehow also been inexplicably dragged in himself to become implicated. From what he had seen of the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's words and expressions, Yue Ye must have said something not advantageous to him which had caused the Shadow Moon Palace Lord to come to feel displeased with him.
"Your subordinate does not dare. The fact that Yue Ye has been able to gain my Lord's acknowledgement is your subordinate's honour." Elder Yue forcibly pushed back the strong urge to vomit out blood as he lowered down his head, his face gone pale, to retreat out from the palace hall wretchedly.
The Shadow Moon Palace Lord watched Elder Yue depart with a cold gaze till Elder Yue's back view had disappeared from his sight completely before he turned his head as the harsh and cold expression on his face then softened, to be replaced by gentleness. He looked smilingly at Yue Ye standing beside him and he reached his hand out to clasp it over Yue Ye's icy cold hand.
"Little Ye has nothing to fear from now onwards. I will take good care of you."
Yue Ye nodded her head obediently and the corners of her eyes still brimmed with teardrops, looking adorably pitiful.
Her lashes that were still glistening from tears lowered together with her eyes, to hide the glint of cold laughter that flashed and disappeared immediately.
Yue Ye then moved out from her original residence and went to stay right beside the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's bedchambers. All those people whom Elder Yue had arranged to take care of her meals and daily needs at her residence were also replaced by the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's subordinates as well.
At that moment, voices rose in debate within the Shadow Moon Palace as no one knew what had actually happened.
They had seen Elder Yue leading a group of aggressive looking disciples who were forcibly bringing Jun Wu Xie to go see the Palace Lord but Jun Wu Xie had come out from there safe and sound and it was Elder Yue who had instead lost a granddaughter for no reason.
Towards that situation, many people were highly curious but none of them dared to go dig into the matter.
Night fell, and the Shadow Moon Palace descended back into silence.
A tiny figure fleeted past under the darkness, to silently arrive at an ancillary courtyard that had just been tidied up.
Inside the yard, the moonlight shone brightly and Yue Ye was squatting among the flowerbeds, digging out the pretty but impractical flowers stalk by stalk from within the soil. Just beside her, it was filled with a bunch of flower pots that carried the plants that she had planted and cared for in the previous little courtyard she had originally stayed in. Now that her place of residence had moved, she did not bring much of other things but just all moved all of the plants she had cultivated for many years.
Chapter 1834: "Are You Still Short of Disciples (1)"
"You really should have remained behind to watch, to see how marvelous Elder Yue's reaction had been at that moment." Squatting among the flowerbeds, Yue Ye did not turn her head around but just went on to open her mouth to say.
Jun Wu Xie treaded upon the moonlight as she looked at the tranquil little courtyard, and then gazed Yue Ye squatting among the flowerbeds, her hands filled with dirt and soil but seemingly in high spirits.
"Without even looking, I already know the kind of a reaction he would have." Jun Wu Xie said emotionlessly as she walked over to come beside the flowerbeds and squatted down herself to pick up a little shovel to help Yue Ye dig out those useless flowers in the beds.
Yue Ye turned her head to look at the side profile of Jun Wu Xie's face, her clear face smeared with some dirt but a sweet smile bloomed upon her lips, still a little green, but shining with brilliance.
"In so many years, it was the first time I saw his face looking so shocked and stunned, it was just exhilarating. Tell me, if he knows that you and I were already in collusion and had already prepared such a grand retaliation against him even before he sent me to go set you up, would he become so absolutely hopping mad with rage that he might just throw all caution to the wind to come pounce right onto us to kill us both?" The smile on Yue Ye's face intensified, her still rather puerile voice exhibiting a tinge of exhilaration.
That clear crisp voice, well reflected the mood she was feeling at that moment.
In fact, right after Jun Wu Xie and Yue Ye managed to align their goals, the two of them were already certain that this day would come, that Elder Yue would not hesitate to use Yue Ye, to set Jun Wu Xie up.
And all of that, had already been under Jun Wu Xie's and Yue Ye's complete control.
As Elder Yue's ploy progressed, he had already soundlessly without realizing it, fallen right into the trap that these two young ladies had dug out for him.
"It was his own stupidity, for being unable to see through your real nature." Jun Wu Xie said indifferently. As she spoke, she then replanted one of the clump of herbs into the flowerbeds at the same time, carefully covering up the roots with dirt.
If Yue Ye was truly such a naive and innocent little girl, how would she be able to follow Elder Yue's instructions to be able to act out her role so thoroughly brilliant in the set up of Jun Wu Xie? Elder Yue had been so intent in bringing down Jun Wu Xie but had overlooked Yue Ye's great acting ability, to have been able to play a victimized young child so flawlessly, so who could be certain that she was not putting on an act everyday as well?
Elder Yue had always been proud of his intelligence, but he had not even in his dreams ever thought that he would be played out so badly by Yue Ye whom he had brought up himself.
Yue Ye wrinkled up her nose and stared at Jun Wu Xie to ask: "Is that a compliment or is that an insult?" Upon saying that, Yue Ye raised up her dirt filled fingers to curl them into claws and waved them before Jun Wu Xie's face in mock ferocity.
"Do you believe that I will scratch out your face?"
"....." Jun Wu Xie looked at Yue Ye, suddenly feeling that she was looking at a humanoid form of the little black cat, who always seemed to like to issue such tame threats.....
"Forget it. You've helped me a great deal this time and I'll take it as I owe you a debt of gratitude. And as you're also my elder brother's benefactor, that makes me owe you two debts of gratitude. But don't worry, I will definitely pay you back in future and I will keep my word." Yue Ye said as she wrinkled her nose, her tone adorably indignant, but it was not difficult to hear the gratitude in her voice.
A little goofus who was not good at expressing gratitude.
"That thing..... I still have to thank you..... Without you, I might not be unable to free myself from Elder Yue so quickly." Yue Ye's voice suddenly became softer, as she lowered her head bashfully.
No matter how intelligent she was, she was still just a twelve year old child. With Yue Yi and herself being manipulated and firmly held under Elder Yue's thumb, to want to break free, would not be an easy task at all.
Chapter 1835: "Are You Still Short of Disciples (2)"
Jun Wu Xie's plan finally gave her an opportunity to completely break free from Elder Yue.
"No need to thank me. We merely cooperated." Jun Wu Xie said indifferently.
Jun Wu Xie's calm response allowed Yue Ye to feel more secure in her heart and she then beamed with smiles like an any normal child would as she continued to work on the flowerbeds.
And the two figures squatted under the moonlight like this beside the flowerbeds to work on the plants, both of them not speaking another word, the silence highly comforting.
Yue Ye liked that momentary silence very much. She was not feeling on edge with fear, nor the need of neverending deception, but just purely doing what she liked to do as she dug out the entire bed of flowers before turning her head around to plant the herbs she had previously been growing into the dirt.
Jun Wu Xie watched Yue Ye as she went about the work happily and she was silent a minute before she suddenly said: "If I were you, I will not plant Starry Moon Grass together with Saddle Flowers."
Yue Ye was slightly taken aback, her hand still holding the little stem of Saddle Flower, her face looking rather mystified.
"Why?" She had always planted them together all this time.
"They both require lots of water and if you plant them too close together, they would be vying with each other which makes it harder for them to thrive." Jun Wu Xie explained it simply.
Yue Ye looked at the Saddle Flower in her hand and then looked at the Starry Moon Grass already planted in the soil before her gaze finally fell upon Jun Wu Xie with a tint of surprise in her eyes.
"You have a good understanding of herbs?"
"Just about enough." Jun Wu Xie said in a exceptionally calm tone.
"Liar. You clearly know a lot about them. I had thought it rather strange before, wondering how you managed to discover the drug I used so quickly. Is it that you know how to concoct poisons as well?" Yue Ye was acting like she had just discovered something new and novel, her large eyes shining as they stared at Jun Wu Xie.
"Just about enough." Jun Wu Xie replied just as indifferently.
"Ay! Don't work on them already. Instead hurry up and tell me what kind of uses do these herbs have?" Yue Ye was suddenly excited as she suddenly starting tugging at Jun Wu Xie to plead for instruction.
Jun Wu Xie lifted up an eyebrow as she looked at Yue Ye. "You do not know about these herbs?"
Yue Ye's face reddened but she forcibly put on an adorably proud look on her face and said: "I know! But just not completely. Elder Yue had kept too tight a watch on me and I did not have any chance to go find any relevant books to read. Everything I know about these herbs were things I saw in an ancient manual."
"Oh?" Jun Wu Xie looked straight at Yue Ye. She had thought before that the fact Yue Ye had been able to grasp such a level of medicine concoction under such unfavourable conditions was already strange by itself.
"You..... You've got to believe me. You'll know I'm telling the truth when I show it to you." Yue Ye said, and then stood up to wipe her little hands casually upon her skirt, before she carefully pulled out a book wrapped with a handkerchief from inside her clothes.
The book looked like it had seen quite a good number of years and it was already broken in quite a few places, looking a little tattered. Jun Wu Xie took the book from her and flipped through it, the crackling sound of the turning pages sounding exceptionally clear within that silence of the night.
Jun Wu Xie sped read the book's contents ten lines at a time.
Looking through it, she immediately realized where Yue Ye's bumbling knowledge had come from.
Instead of saying that the book was a manual, it was more like a journal that recorded a person's insights. Inside, written in flamboyant calligraphy was all about the person's understanding and insights about the effects of herbs and he had made a large number of inferences and conclusions. The basis of these inferences, was how to concoct lethal poisonous drugs using non toxic herbs as its core fundamental.
Chapter 1836: "Are You Still Short of Disciples (3)"
Many types of herbs were recorded in the journal, but most of them were describing the specific corresponding properties needed to concoct the poisons but they did not state the most basic effects of those herbs.
Little wonder Yue Ye would ask such a question.
Jun Wu Xie returned the journal to Yue Ye and the eyes that looked at Yue Ye became highly interesting.
The records in the journal were not complete and the scattered and fragmented information would cause people to easily fall in doubt. If one did not possess a certain level of basic knowledge about herbs, they would not be able to understand the writings even with the journal in their hands. But looking at Yue Ye, it would seem like Yue Ye could not possibly have learnt anything about Medicine before stumbling onto this journal and according to reason, she should not be able to understand the information written in there.
But against all logic, Yue Ye had still managed to learn what she needed from there.
But the kind of learning deviated from conventional methods which was as good as saying that before a person knew how to read, he was already grouping words together to form a spell.
This was a highly amazing feat and it astounded even Jun Wu Xie.
Maybe being caught in dire straits had brought out Yue Ye's potential which gave her that one single opportunity. Like a person who had fallen into a deep icy lake whose hand had managed to grasp upon a final life saving straw and no matter what, she would fight with all she had to live.
"The things written in there, do you understand them?" Yue Ye looked at Jun Wu Xie with longing eyes.
"Mm." Jun Wu Xie nodded.
"Then..... then this flower is the Saddle Flower?" Yue Ye asked as she flipped the journal to the part that mentioned the Saddle Flower and upon it was only a sketch of the Saddle Flower without even indicating its name.
It was clear that before Jun Wu Xie opened her mouth to mention it earlier, Yue Ye did not even know what she was holding in her hand.....
"Yes." Jun Wu Xie said patiently.
"What kind of uses does the flower have?" Yue Ye blinked her eyes as she looked at Jun Wu Xie.
"Soothes the nerves."
"Then this?"
"Moon Gazing Grass."
"What are its uses?"
"Stems bleeding."
"Then....." Yue Ye was like a child so thirsty for knowledge as she squatted beside Jun Wu Xie, opening up every single page of the journal and diligently raising questions to ask Jun Wu Xie. And after Jun Wu Xie responded, she would then carefully remember it in her heart.
Jun Wu Xie was showing a rare moment of patience as she analysed everything in that journal for her once and she suddenly had an illusion that she was teaching little kids.
Ever since Yue Ye had gotten the journal, she had always researched on her own in secret. She had never dared to ask anyone and she did not dare to let Elder Yue find out about the book's existence but merely depend on her own brain to slowly chew on what was written about every type of herb that was recorded in the journal. Even though the records were piecemeal and not complete, it had been to her, something that she treasured most.
If not for this journal, she might not have been able to escape the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's evil claws.
Under the moonlight, the backs of Yue Ye and Jun Wu Xie showed them squatting shoulder to shoulder by the flowerbeds, the two small figures looking to be in great harmony.
"You know so much. You can concoct medicines?" Yue Ye had listened for a long while and her legs were already growing numb from squatting but she still could not bear to stop till she flipped the book to the very last page before she raised up her head still unsatiated as she looked at Jun Wu Xie.
"Mm."
"Do you have great ability in concocting medicine? You mustn't lie to me. Even the physicians in the Shadow Moon Palace were not able to detect the things I learnt from this book but you could tell with just once glance that the Palace Lord had been poisoned. You must be really good at it." Yue Ye said as she looked at Jun Wu Xie with certainty.
Jun Wu Xie had no choice but to nod her head.
Yue Ye then gulped and looked at Jun Wu Xie with fervent eyes.
"Then are you..... still short of disciples?"
Chapter 1837: "Are You Still Short of Disciples (4)"
Jun Wu Xie was a little taken aback as she saw how nervous Yue Ye was. The nervousness this time was anxiety that really stemmed from Yue Ye's heart.
"I..... I might not know much at all but I will learn with all my heart. I know that I am completely useless now and will not be of any help to you,but..... I swear, I will be a good disciple. Can you teach me?" Yue Ye bit down on her lip a little reservedly after saying that. She was afterall a little girl that was just twelve years old and even if she was trying to put on a strong front, she was still a child who hasn't yet grown up at heart.
She was able put up a false front before Elder Yue, pretend before the Shadow Moon Palace, and even act in front of her elder brother but..... at that very moment, she was just a bumbling and ignorant little girl, who could even be said to be a feeling a little inferior.
"I know that you might even despise me, though I am..... rather wretched, but..... I beg you....." Yue Ye was feeling helplessly anxious. Help that was available to her was just too rare and in a place like the Shadow Moon Palace where people devoured each other, Yue Ye had clutched on to this last straw of hope and spared no effort to learn everything she could but it had still been far from enough. She merely sought to escape from this place, and live a peaceful life with Yue Yi. She just wanted to be able to live.
Jun Wu Xie stared at the desperate plea in Yue Ye's eyes, a kind of struggle and yearning that would only show when one had no other way out.
Finally, Jun Wu Xie opened her mouth.
"Alright."
"Really? Thank you! Thank you!" The nervousness on Yue Ye's face melted away at that moment. She was rather flustered but the delight she felt in her heart could not be any clearer.
"I..... I know..... I know it....." Yue Ye suddenly stood up, her legs feeling rather numb and she nearly fell over. But she ignored all of that and went on ahead to open her stride to run towards her room.
Jun Wu Xie stood up slowly, and looked on at the back of Yue Ye's hurrying little figure. For just one moment, she seemed to see herself in the past.
In the midst of hopelessness, yearning for that one sliver of light.
Without knowing why, Jun Wu Xie had seen a shadow of herself in the past and that demon who had been pegged with the title of "Grandfather", had controlled their lives, keeping them trapped in hopelessness.
Just awhile after, Yue Ye came running out in a hurry, a cup of tea in her hands. In a rush, she ran over to come in front of Jun Wu Xie and fell straight to her knees with a thud onto the ground. She then raised up her hands holding the cup of tea that had already turned cold and raised her head, her bright eyes staring unwaveringly at Jun Wu Xie.
"Master..... You..... have tea....." Her voice trembling slightly, Yue Ye's voice came out from her mouth.
Jun Wu Xie looked at Yue Ye and suddenly laughed.
A faint smile blossomed from the edges of her lips that made that disguised face with its delicate features suddenly become stunning and alluring.
Accepting the tea Yue Ye offered to her Master, Jun Wu Xie tilted her head back and downed it in one go.
Yue Ye was grinning just like a regular child.
She saw hope.
Regardless whether Yue Ye sincerely wanted to acknowledge Jun Wu Xie as her Master, or if she just wanted to grab on to a way out, that very moment for her was a happy one.
"Get up now." Jun Wu Xie opened her mouth to say.
"Yes!" Yue Ye stood up smiling, not caring about the dirt and dust clinging on her clothes, her smile exceptionally brilliant.
"We should finish planting these herbs into the soil first." Jun Wu Xie said expressionlessly.
Yue Ye quickly nodded and the two figures, one bigger one smaller went back to squatting by the flowerbeds, as they tidied up all the herbs in silence, planting life into the ground, as well as hope.
It was Jun Wu Xie's first time accepting a disciple and the feeling was not too bad. Or at least she did not find Yue Ye's character reprehensible and Jun Wu Xie thought Yue Ye's great gift to be rather admirable.
Chapter 1838: "Drift (1)"
From that day onwards, Yue Ye's life did not seemed to have changed much but in reality, it had undergone a Heaven moving and Earth churning change.
Having broken out from under Elder Yue's control, she gained much more freedom for herself. Although the Shadow Moon Palace Lord harboured improper thoughts towards her, having just regained his health, he was now more concerned about exerting control over the Shadow Moon Palace and had not paid so much attention to Yue Ye.
Yue Ye was glad that she had more time for herself now and would frequently invite Jun Wu Xie to come to her little courtyard often.
With the skills that Jun Wu Xie possessed, wanting to avoid the detection of those people in Yue Ye's little courtyard was a simple and effortless affair.
Jun Wu Xie would impart to Yue Ye some common knowledge everyday, starting from the most basic; the identification of herbs.
Yue Ye was greatly gifted in the concoction of medicines. Based on just a incomplete and tattered book, she had been able to use her own intelligence to concoct so many kinds of poison. And with Jun Wu Xie's guidance now, her growth had absolutely soared.
Jun Wu Xie was careful and precise in her teaching while Yue Ye was attentive and diligent in learning.
The Master and disciple pair got along just swimmingly.
Meanwhile at that same moment, the situation on Elder Yue's side was not all that harmonious.
Ever since the Shadow Moon Palace Lord snatched Yue Ye away from Elder Yue's side, Elder Yue could clearly feel that the trust the Shadow Moon Palace Lord had in him was slowly eroding bit by bit. Because he had been too shocked back on that fateful day, he had not been able to react at that time. But after he had calmed down over the next two days, Elder Yue was able to come to the realization that Yue Ye had betrayed him!
However, with the way things were now, it was impossible for him to be able to scheme a comeback in retaliation. Even if he wanted to seek justice against Yue Ye, with the Shadow Moon Palace Lord having just taken him down a peg so recently, he absolutely did not dare to find trouble with Yue Ye at all or otherwise, the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's wrath would not be something that he would be able to shoulder at this point of time.
"Damn it! I had not thought that I would be deceived by that little slut this time." Elder Yue said to himself as he sat fuming in his chair. It could be said that he had watched Yue Ye and Yue Yi grow up with his own eyes and most importantly, Yue Yi already had his awareness and sensibilities about him when he came and it might be harder to control him. But when Yue Ye came here, she had been a bumbling little toddler that knew nothing at all and Elder Yue had always firmly believed that he had Yue Ye completely under his control.
Hence, he had made use of Yue Ye to control Yue Yi but Elder Yue had not been worried about Yue Ye at all, never thinking that the day would come where Yue Ye would betray him.
And all of that, had happened so suddenly, catching him completely off guard.
No matter how much he wanted to salvage the situation, it was already entirely impossible.
"Just when had it all begun? That little slut!" Elder Yue was so angry his jaws were tightly clenched up. He had always thought of Yue Ye like an obedient little puppy that he kept with him to on one hand to use to control Yue Yi, and on the other hand to gain the Shadow Moon Palace Lord's favour. But with Yue Ye's betrayal of him, the loss that Elder Yue had had to suffer was far beyond his imagination.
The Shadow Moon Palace Lord's trust in him had immediately reduced and Yue Yi was still outside, not yet come back. If he finds out that Yue Ye had already broken out from under his control, then with Yue Yi's character.....
"Damn it! The slut! I will never let you go scot free.... You think that by running to the Palace Lord's side, I will then not be able to do anything to you?" The corners of Elder Yue's mouth curled up into a sneer, his eyes looking like they were immersed in venom.
His eyes then slowly turned to look upon the cupboard at the side. He stood up without a sound, and went walking over to the cupboard, to pull at an old book on the cupboard lightly. The cupboard that was stuck seamlessly to the wall suddenly opened up and what stood behind the cupboard was not a wall, but a secret chamber!
Elder Yue then walked inside without a sound.
Chapter 1839: "Drift (2)"
Elder Ying came rushing back to the palace after he finished up with business outside the palace. He had been sent out of the palace this time because of Elder Yue's tricks behind the scenes. But it had been the Palace Lord's orders and no matter how unwilling Elder Yue was, he still had to go.
In the past few days that Elder Ying had been out, his heart had been feeling anxious, not knowing what kind of terrifying things could have happened in the palace.
Especially under the current situation where Elder Yue had his eyes set on Jun Wu Xie. No one knew what kind of things Elder Yue might be capable of.
On the way back, Elder Yue was determined to return like an arrow released from a bow, as he finally managed to rush back to the Shadow Moon Palace. Reaching the Shadow Moon Palace, he did not even have the time to rest a moment when he quickly reached the little courtyard that Jun Wu Xie was living in.
Having just entered the little courtyard, Elder Ying suddenly discovered a figure in the yard who should not be appearing there.
"So White Shell can also be used like that. It's really amazing!" Yue Ye's eyes were widened as she looked at the dish of white powder placed on the stone table. Jun Wu Xie stood by her side, with a teapot in her hand, who was dripping the plain water drop by drop onto the White Shell powder.
After the crystalline water droplet fell into the White Shell powder, the powder immediately stuck onto it, quickly dissolving into the water. But the water droplet kept its shape and form as it melded with the White Shell powder, to become a white congealed little pearl.
Yue Ye watched in amazement and she could not help herself but to reach her hand out to poke at it. What should have been a wet water droplet, had at that moment turned to become firm and hard, and with Yue Ye's action, it rolled and tumbled off the dish.
"It will not melt or dissolve anymore?" Yue Ye held the little bead in her hand, observing it as she turned it over back and forth, thinking that it was highly interesting.
"Put it in wine and it will dissolve." Jun Wu Xie then continued: "White Shell dissipates the effects of wine."
"Doesn't that mean that if I am competing with others in drinking, I will just need to quietly slip this into my wine and I can turn it into water? And no matter how I drink, I will not become drunk?" Yue Ye asked with her eyes absolutely shining.
"Theoretically." Jun Wu Xie nodded.
Without knowing why, Jun Wu Xie could not help but feel that this disciple of hers had a rather strange way of thinking.
"I've learnt something!" Yue Ye laughed as she picked up the bead, feeling exceptionally uninhibited.
Jun Wu Xie was just intending to continue to say something to her when she spotted Elder Ying standing stunned at the courtyard's entrance.
There wasn't anyone standing guard outside her courtyard but Ye Sha alone was watching over everything. If anyone was thinking to secretly sneak in, they would not even make it past the door before they would die in Ye Sha's hands. People that are able to come in under Ye Sha's watch were all just candidates that Jun Wu Xie allowed.
At that moment, Elder Ying was already stunned almost silly and he just stood there dazed as he looked at Jun Wu Xie chatting amicably with Yue Ye, his eyes filled with disbelief.
If it was said that Elder Ying had accepted the relationship between Jun Wu Xie and Yue Yi, that was because Yue Yi already harboured thoughts of resistance against Elder Yue. Moreover, when Yue Yi came into the Shadow Moon Palace, he was already old enough to be aware of things, and Elder Yue would not be able to control him fully.
But it was completely different for Yue Ye.
Yue Ye was brought up by Elder Yue from when she was very young and she listens to his every word. Beat Elder Ying to death and he would not have thought that in just the few days that he had been out, Jun Wu Xie would actually dare to become so close to Yue Ye who was so loyal and fiercely protected by Elder Yue!
For a moment, Elder Ying's mind found it a little hard to react to it.
And what shocked him more was that Yue Ye who was with Jun Wu Xie at that moment looked so completely different!
Chapter 1840: "Drift (3)"
In the past, Yue Ye had always given Elder Ying the feeling that she was highly timid, with a soft personality and easy to control.
But just now, what he saw was not a weak and cowardly little fella. That face that had been full of vitality with a mischievous expression was a completely different person from the Yue Ye he remembered.
He suddenly suspected whether he was actually hallucinating as he could not help but feel that something was not right someplace.
Yue Ye had also noticed Elder Ying's sudden appearance. The smile on her face then disappeared without a trace when the figure of Elder Ying fell into her eyes. She got up from the stone stool hurriedly and then looked at Jun Wu Xie, helpless and flustered.
"What are you looking at?" Jun Wu Xie lifted an eyebrow as she looked at the stunned Elder Ying.
Elder Ying then finally regained his senses and looked at Jun Wu Xie before looking at Yue Ye, his brows unconsciously furrowing up together.
"You come over here." He said to Jun Wu Xie.
Jun Wu Xie then went walking over.
Without even waiting for Jun Wu Xie to stand firmly, Elder Ying could not even wait as he pulled Jun Wu Xie to one side and said in a soft voice: "Why are you getting so close to Yue Ye? Don't you know that she is a pawn of Elder Yue's? Though the child is pitiful, but you cannot afford to not have your guard up. I am not saying you have to guard against her, but you must guard yourself against Elder Yue behind her, as that old scoundrel might be thinking of using Yue Ye to entrap you."
Elder Ying grumbled in a soft voice. He was not really entirely against Yue Ye, but was thinking that Elder Yue behind Yue Ye was a tricky one to deal with.
"The thing you were worried about has happened." Jun Wu Xie suddenly opened her mouth to say.
Elder Ying was slightly taken aback.
"What do you mean?"
"On the day that you went out of the Shadow Moon Palace, Elder Yue did the thing that you were worried about." Jun Wu Xie said calmly.
"What! ? Then..... You..... She....." Elder Ying's eyes had gone wide. He knew that when Elder Yue had purposely pulled him away, he would definitely be up to no good. He had not thought that Elder Yue would make his move so quickly and he could not help but be worried about it.
"Yue Ye is now no longer Elder Yue's granddaughter. The Shadow Moon Palace Lord had taken her in." Jun Wu Xie continued to spout words that caused Elder Ying to be stunned speechless in a completely calm manner.
"What..... What did you say? What actually happened here..... Why can't I understand what you are saying?" Elder Ying's face was in a daze.
Jun Wu Xie told Elder Ying briefly about the events on how she had joined hands with Yue Ye to outsmart Elder Yue till he vomited blood. After Elder Ying finished listening to it, he gasped a long cold breath as his astounded eyes swung between Jun Wu Xie and Yue Ye.
And to think that he had been worrying so hard about whether Jun Wu Xie would be taken advantage of. Never had he thought that the kid would be so astonishingly capable to have been able to counter Elder Yue with a checkmate!
Not only had Elder Yue been forced to swallow his own bitter medicine, even Yue Ye had been taken out from under his grasp!
At that moment, Elder Ying suddenly pitied Elder Yue who had schemed against by Jun Wu Xie.
To think that Elder Yue who had commanded so much power in the Shadow Moon Palace for so many years, who had been able to contend against him?
But Jun Wu Xie who had come to the Shadow Moon Palace for not even half a month's time had tripped up Elder Yue repeatedly a few times, which just caused people to be at a loss for words.
"With what the two of you have done..... You will have to be careful. Elder Yue is not a person that is easily dealt with. Although the two of you have managed to force him to swallow the bitter pill this time, but he will surely remember this debt in his heart and exact revenge upon you in future. So, the both of you must be more careful in whatever you do from now onwards." Elder Ying said as he blew out a breath of relief, giving them a careful reminder.
Having been struggling against Elder Yue for so many years himself, Elder Ying knew Elder Yue's character all too well.