"Ran'er, is Xiao Qin's real name Xiao Man?" Madam Yue asked cautiously.
Yue Ran was startled, then scratched his head sheepishly, "Mother, I don't know."
"She never told you her real name?"
"She didn't even tell me she was a girl, how could she tell me her real name?" Yue Ran lowered his voice, "Mother, don't expose me, or my second brother will be angry with me."
When Xiao Man entered with the food, she happened to hear this: "What did you do that I would be angry with you?"
Yue Ran jumped up, helping to lay out the bowls and chopsticks: "Nothing, thank you, second brother."
"I made some home-style stir-fries, I hope Madam won't dislike them."
"Your cooking is excellent, how could I dislike it." Madam Yue said kindly, pulling Xiao Man to sit beside her, "Child, Ran'er tells me you are the only one left in your family. Would you be willing to stay at the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
This was the second time Madam Yue had asked Xiao Man if she was willing to stay at the Heavenly Sword Sect, but this time Madam Yue's thoughts had changed. The last time she asked, it was to test Xiao Man, but this time, she genuinely hoped Xiao Man would stay!
Xiao Man broke free from Madam Yue's hand: "Thank you for your kindness, Madam, but I am used to being free and dislike being restrained."
"Here at the Heavenly Sword Sect, no one will restrain you. You will be like Ran'er, enjoying the same treatment as the young master..."
"Thank you for your kindness, Madam, but it's not necessary." Xiao Man refused clearly for the first time. She didn't want to stay at the Heavenly Sword Sect, nor did she want to be within Madam Yue's sphere of influence. She feared that if this continued, she might not be able to control her resentment and would act against Madam Yue. Moreover, if Yue Tianxia was the mastermind, he would likely not let her go.
"Why?" Madam Yue pressed, "You and Ran'er are brothers. Since you have nowhere to go, why not stay at the Heavenly Sword Sect and assist Ran'er?"
"Madam Yue, everyone has their own ambitions. My ambition is not here. Please understand," Xiao Man said to Madam Yue, her tone calm. "Although my parents are gone and my maternal and paternal clans have been destroyed, I still have my master and friends. I am not alone. I came to the Heavenly Sword Sect this time merely to have a look."
To have a look? Madam Yue felt uneasy. To see what? To see how her mother was living? To see how heartless her mother was, not recognizing her own biological daughter standing before her? Or to see what a heartless person her mother was?
"Ultimately, you will need to find a place to settle. The Heavenly Sword Sect can be considered an option for you. Ran'er also hopes you will stay." Madam Yue looked at Yue Ran, who nodded eagerly. He wanted Xiao Man to stay; no, he desperately hoped she would stay.
Xiao Man fell silent. She could not reveal her identity, nor could she let Madam Yue reveal it. Once her identity was exposed, Yue Tianxia would surely kill her for the Tongtian Pagoda in her possession. Anywhere could be a place for her to settle, but the Heavenly Sword Sect would not be one of them!
After Madam Yue returned to the Purple Jade Pavilion, she felt a constant blockage in her heart. Xiao Man's detachment from her was not like resentment, but more like the attitude one would have towards a stranger, which made her both sad and guilty. Su Dan Novel Network
"Wait, why did she come here?" Madam Yue was very perplexed. Shouldn't Xiao Man be acting as the young lady of Yusheng? Even if she was no longer the young lady, she should have returned to Lanyue to be its Imperial Princess, or even Empress. Why did she appear alone in Cangxuan? She didn't believe Xiao Man had the ability to tear through space and come to the Cangxuan Continent alone!
"Jingshu."
"Your servant is here."
"I recall you telling me that Xiao Qin came from the land of nothingness?"
"Reporting to Madam, yes."
"Alright, I understand. You may go." After Jingshu left, Madam Yue summoned someone, "Shadow Slave, go investigate this matter, everything about Xiao Qin, no detail is too small. I want to know everything."
"Yes, Master."
Madam Yue had been married into the Heavenly Sword Sect for twenty years and naturally had her own influence. It was possible to investigate matters while avoiding Yue Tianxia's notice. Moreover, too many people in the Heavenly Sword Sect were investigating Xiao Man. Even if Yue Tianxia knew someone was investigating Xiao Man, he wouldn't scrutinize who it was. After all, Xiao Man's presence by Yue Ran's side affected Yue Ran's every move. It was not unreasonable for Madam Yue to investigate her.
This also allowed Shadow Slave to investigate smoothly. They didn't find much about Xiao Man's life before leaving the land of nothingness. Regarding the Eight Tribes, only Shan Yun and Qi Hong knew about it. These two were tight-lipped, and outsiders could not find out anything.
Looking at the information Shadow Slave had compiled, Madam Yue became increasingly alarmed and indignant: "The demons are truly too overbearing! In recent years, the Four Great Sects have rarely paid attention to them. They hide in dark corners, and now their reach is very long!"
"Right, since Xiao Qin came from the Eight Tribes, why are there no records of the Eight Tribes?"
"Cannot be found."
"Cannot be found?" Madam Yue was a little surprised. "There are things you cannot find?"
"There were two people who came out of the Eight Tribes with Xiao Qin. One is now with the Sikong family, living in seclusion. The other is at the Cang Lang Sect and has already attained the position of a core disciple. However, these two refuse to speak about Xiao Qin's affairs, so we have no way of knowing her situation in the Eight Tribes."
Madam Yue's brows furrowed. Xiao Man did not originally belong to the Cangxuan Continent. Someone must have brought her to the Cangxuan Continent and then banished her to the Eight Tribes, intending to kill her. But who was this person?
"Madam, your servant has also discovered something."
"What is it?"
"A while ago, the sect gained a new elder. This person appeared out of nowhere and became a Nascent Soul elder in a short period. However, during an outing, he perished. It is said that he died in the East Yue Forest, and at that time, the Young Sect Master and Xiao Qin were both in the East Yue Forest."
"What was the status of a Nascent Soul elder?"
"His status is likely known only to the Sect Master. Your servant has only found a name." Shadow Slave glanced at Madam Yue, "His name was Feng Mo Ran."
Madam Yue's expression changed drastically: "What did you say his name was?"
"Feng Mo Ran!"
Madam Yue's mind became a chaotic mess. Why was Feng Mo Ran here? Why did he become a guest elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect? And who killed him in the East Yue Forest?
Madam Yue was inherently intelligent. It was just that in recent years, under Yue Tianxia's wing, she had rarely used her abilities, but that didn't mean she was a fool.
On the Cangxuan Continent, only two people had the ability to tear through space: one was her husband, Yue Tianxia, and the other was the mysterious prodigy Lei Tianze of the Tianji Sect. Lei Tianze never left the Tianji Sect. Coupled with Feng Mo Ran's appearance at the Heavenly Sword Sect, a faint idea began to form in Madam Yue's mind: it was Yue Tianxia who brought Xiao Man to the Cangxuan Continent!
But why would Yue Tianxia bring her daughter to the Cangxuan Continent? What was his reason for doing so?