Madam Yue rubbed her temples. Her head began to ache faintly. Her memories were gradually resurfacing, but they were incomplete. She recalled having a daughter and a husband, but couldn't remember how she came to the Cangxuan Continent, nor did she understand why Xiao Man had come here.
"Madam, shall we continue the investigation?"
"No need," Madam Yue waved her hand. The rest was not for Ying Nu to investigate; it was up to her. She had been Madam Yue for twenty years and understood Yue Tianxia's character well. Yue Tianxia never did anything without purpose. If she brought Man'er to Cangxuan Continent, it must be because Man'er was useful to him!
As Madam Yue pondered the implications, she suddenly remembered Yue Ran. The most pressing matter was to stop Yue Ran. "Jing Shu."
"Madam, what is your command?"
"Go and summon the Young Sect Master. I have something to tell him."
"Yes, Madam."
Yue Ran was in high spirits when he was summoned, as his mother had personally asked Xiao Man to stay, which was a good start.
"Mother, what do you want to tell me?"
Madam Yue took Yue Ran to the innermost room and set up a soundproof barrier. "Tell me honestly, do you like Xiao Qin?"
Yue Ran blushed. "Mother, don't you already know? I plan... I plan to propose to her at my birthday banquet."
"Absolutely not! Absolutely not!"
"Mother, why not?" Yue Ran asked, confused. "Don't you also wish for my second brother to stay?"
"I wish for her to stay, but she cannot be your wife!"
"Why not?"
"There is no why. It's just impossible!" Madam Yue suppressed her emotions and said, "If you don't want to harm her, then say nothing and treat her as your elder sister."
"I don't want an elder sister, and I don't want to be her younger brother. I want her to always be by my side, accompanying me, doting on me alone!" Yue Ran roared. "Mother, you love me the most. I have never asked you for anything since I was a child, but this time..."
"Ran'er, you can marry any woman in this world, but not her!" Madam Yue closed her eyes. What sin had she committed to endure such torment and suffering!
"In my eyes, no woman in this world can compare to her," Yue Ran insisted stubbornly. "I only want her."
"Have you considered that this might just be your wishful thinking?" Madam Yue took a deep breath. If she couldn't get through to Yue Ran, she would have to go through Xiao Man. They were siblings, and they absolutely could not be together!
"If she has no feelings for me, why is she so good to me?" Yue Ran retorted. "She worries about my health, refines pills for me, gets angry when I'm bullied, and protects me regardless of the cost, even when I don't need her protection. If she has no feelings, why does she treat me this way?"
Because she is your elder sister, and she knows you are her younger brother, so she protects and cherishes you! But she dared not say this. Xiao Man and Feng Mo Ran appearing on Cangxuan at the same time made her smell danger. She dared not reveal that Xiao Man was her daughter, and she even dared not reveal that she had recovered some of her memories, because she had begun to suspect her own husband!
In the end, Yue Ran was punished by Madam Yue and sent to the Cliff of Contemplation, escorted all the way.
The sect members were very surprised. After all, Madam Yue doted on Yue Ran immensely. Whenever the Sect Master punished Yue Ran and sent him to the Cliff of Contemplation, Madam Yue would find a way to get him out. However, this time, Madam Yue had actively confined Yue Ran there.
"Young Master, what should we do? The Young Sect Master has been confined to the Cliff of Contemplation by Madam," Liu Han said anxiously. Their address for Xiao Man had now changed to "Young Master," not just because Xiao Man had won Yue Ran's favor, but also because of Xiao Man's extraordinary strength.
"Madam Yue is Yue Ran's mother. If she punishes him, it must be for his own good," Xiao Man said, flipping through a book. This was from the library, a miscellaneous record of strange and unusual events, but she had found some unusual clues within it. The book stated that the Cangxuan Continent was formed from the body of a celestial god. This celestial god, in order to provide a place for his people to live, transformed his body into the Cangxuan Continent. His spirit became the guardian of the Cangxuan Continent, which is the rule of heaven and earth!
To ensure perpetual peace in the world, the god appointed his four most capable subordinates to guard the four directions. This was the origin of the Four Great Sects!
"Young Master, I heard Madam was very angry this time. She even stripped off the Fire Fox brocade she made for the Young Sect Master. The Cliff of Contemplation is frozen and icy. The Young Sect Master must be having a very difficult time inside."
"His nature is fire, and he cultivates the Phoenix Fire Arts. Even if the Cliff of Contemplation freezes three feet deep in a day, it will not harm his life. He will only suffer some hardship," Xiao Man continued to read the book, searching for any useful information.
"Young Master, the Young Sect Master has treated you well. Now that he is in trouble, you remain indifferent. It is quite disheartening to the Young Sect Master!" Yang Wei slammed the table fiercely. "By doing this, you are letting down the Young Sect Master's high regard for you."
Xiao Man put down the book. "What? Do you want me to rush out now and fight Madam Yue to the death, or rush to the Cliff of Contemplation, break the barrier, and release A'ran?"
"This..." Yang Wei looked hesitant. Madam Yue was Yue Ran's mother. A mother punishing her son was only natural, and of course, one couldn't fight her. As for the Cliff of Contemplation, even if they went there, without a token, they couldn't enter. The barrier of the Cliff of Contemplation was not to be trifled with.
"But just sitting here is not an option."
"Now, heroes from all directions are gathering at the Heavenly Sword Sect. A'ran's birthday banquet is fast approaching. By his birthday banquet, Madam Yue and the Sect Master will surely have him released from the Cliff of Contemplation."
"Young Master, the last time the Eldest Young Master was sent to the Cliff of Contemplation, he almost lost half his life!"
"Does Yue Zhong even compare to A'ran?" Xiao Man glanced at Yang Wei. "If your Young Sect Master were truly so incompetent, I would advise you to find another master quickly."
Yang Wei was speechless. He had gone through great lengths and used all sorts of schemes to get by Yue Ran's side. How could he possibly pledge allegiance to someone else? Moreover, in the Heavenly Sword Sect, besides the Sect Master, who else had more influence than Yue Ran, the Young Sect Master?
"I am not going anywhere. I will follow the Young Sect Master. The Young Sect Master is my master!" Yang Wei said fiercely. "If you wish to climb to higher branches, please do so. I would rather die than leave the Young Sect Master's side."
"Your master has been confined to the Cliff of Contemplation. Since you are so loyal, why don't you accompany him there?"