58 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 58: Looking Back The Zhu Family acted faster than Xiang Shi Yan had anticipated. As night descended, Zhu Cheng personally came to invite her. At this point, less than three hours had passed since Xiang Shi Yan entered the city. They had already arranged everything; surely, in such a short time, they couldn’t have called upon the remaining elders and offering custodians of the Zhu Family as they did in the original plot. Still, Xiang Shi Yan was quite pleased with their efficiency. After all, she wasn’t there to catch them red-handed; in fact, this matter absolutely needed to remain discreet. "They actually came..." Du Ruo, transformed into a small snake, hid in the inner pocket of Xiang Shi Yan’s sleeve. Living things couldn’t enter the Sutra Bag, but Du Ruo had shrunk herself small enough to curl up inside it comfortably. Being a Nascent Soul practitioner proficient in water-based magic, Du Ruo was also well-versed in various mystical arts such as the art of shrinking and the shape-shifting techniques of demon cultivators. In reality, she harbored the intention of showcasing her abilities to Xiang Shi Yan, hoping to prove that she was the most suitable disciple for her. She had heard that the little rascal they met in Xinyang City was taken back to Jade Cang Mountain by Xiang Shi Yan and was found to possess an ice spirit root—a talent that made Du Ruo almost bite her tongue in jealousy, feeling envious both of the person and the spiritual root. Though her combat skills were only on par with practitioners slightly less advanced than herself like Huai Ye, her fine-tuned manipulation of spiritual sense allowed her to communicate secretly, even in front of a Nascent Soul stage like Zhu Cheng, without exposing any flaws. Initially, Du Ruo was skeptical of Xiang Shi Yan’s words. She figured that since Xiang Shi Yan had dragged her along to this place, there must be some shady dealings between Huaihai City and the Zhu Family. As for the details, Xiang Shi Yan hadn’t explained them clearly to her; Du Ruo even speculated that Xiang Shi Yan herself might not fully understand the entirety of the situation, hence didn’t dare to jump to conclusions. The Zhu Family’s cautious attitude elevated Du Ruo’s level of vigilance regarding the matter. The man before them, with average features and a demeanor that seemed drained by indulgence, was the current head of the Zhu Family, Zhu Cheng. Although unassuming in appearance, neither Xiang Shi Yan nor Du Ruo dared underestimate him. After all, for this man to maintain the family's influence amidst numerous external threats after inheriting an increasingly frail lineage, he must possess some notable abilities. As for the methods he employed to navigate the various power dynamics around him, that was exactly what Xiang Shi Yan intended to uncover during this visit. Who was Xiang Shi Yan? On a grand scale, she was a rising star in the world of cultivators, one of the elders of Jade Cang Mountain, which was currently the only sect in the cultivation world willing to openly support the Zhu Family. However, on a smaller scale? No matter how renowned she was, Xiang Shi Yan was merely at the Nascent Soul stage, struggling to advance further, uncertain if she would ever succeed before her lifespan ended. Although Jade Cang Mountain was one of the five major sects, it ranked last among them, and couldn’t entirely match the seemingly still grand Zhu Family, let alone Xiang Shi Yan, a mere elder. No matter how diminished its fortunes, Zhu Cheng remained the head of one of the seven great families and was also the current city lord of Huaihai City—a local authority on whose territory Xiang Shi Yan now stood. Although, due to the relationship between Qi Wei and Xiang Shi Yan, it wouldn’t be inappropriate for her to call Zhu Cheng "brother-in-law," putting her in a generationally lower position. What reason did Zhu Cheng have to take her so seriously, then? Perhaps it was a preconceived notion, but Du Ruo found his prudence somewhat suspicious. After the steward in Pine Crane Hall announced her presence, Xiang Shi Yan deliberately delayed for a moment before slowly making her entrance. Zhu Cheng, unperturbed, warmly opened his arms to greet her: "Junior Sister, it’s been many years, how have you been?" Xiang Shi Yan frowned, warily stepping back to avoid Zhu Cheng’s embrace. There was a flicker of awkwardness on the man’s face, but he quickly composed himself, smiling as he sat down with a swish of his robe. Clearing his throat, he said, "Why didn’t you inform anyone upon arriving in Huaihai City, Junior Sister? I could have arranged for someone to greet you." Xiang Shi Yan remained standing, and the small involuntary movement of Du Ruo’s tiny snake form nestled in her sleeve hinted at a tinge of fear. Or at least, what approximated to fear given she was currently devoid of any hair to bristle, which highlighted her unease even more. Perhaps because her beast form sharpened her instincts, the low pressure Xiang Shi Yan exuded caused Du Ruo to shrink back. Xiang Shi Yan’s voice was cold as she replied, "There’s no need for familiarity. I am not your Junior Sister. What does the City Lord require?" "Don’t say that. I thought you and Ning Er were close." Zhu Cheng leaned back comfortably in his chair, crossing his legs, smilingly watching her. Cooling her expressions became an art for Xiang Shi Yan, but under her collected exterior, roiling anger surfaced as Zhu Cheng uttered that name, making her momentarily clench her fist until her fingers nearly snapped. She knew exactly what this man had done — something far more grievous and horrifying than merely betraying a vow of loyalty. Xiang Shi Yan had assumed she could face the truth with adequate calm, yet she wondered now if her inability to advance in cultivation for years was due to her insufficient mastery of the path of emotionlessness. Zhu Cheng noticed her displeasure, a mix of smugness and a touch of old guilt crossing his expression as he awkwardly shifted position. Rubbing his nose, he said, "Since the twins were born, you haven’t visited, have you? Now that you’re here, why not stay at my residence for a couple of days? If Ning Er knew, she'd probably blame me in her dreams." The casual way he made this offer nauseated Xiang Shi Yan further. A part of her longed to tear apart the man’s words, while another part of her was trying to calm her inner turmoil, much like a gentle hand soothing a furiously agitated beast. Du Ruo was also using her slender tail to softly stroke Xiang Shi Yan’s wrist, mostly to prevent herself from getting frozen inadvertently. "We’re all family, after all. Considering, you could be seen as Xiao Yun and Xiao Yu’s aunt. How can we allow you to stay elsewhere?" Zhu Cheng clasped his hands with apparent sincerity. His tone slowed as he continued with a composed smile, "I believe you’d like to get to know the twins properly, right?" This wasn’t your main objective in coming here? His gaze didn’t waver, without the slightest hint of hiding his intentions, nor did he show any sign of punishing his daughters for potentially contacting Xiang Shi Yan secretly. Xiang Shi Yan gave a nod, feeling no obligation to mask her intentions under a veneer of courtesy which customarily would require her to decline at least superficially. Truth be told, she simply didn’t have the energy for such charades. The Zhu Family's grand estate sprawled over the highlands on the western edge of Huaihai City, its land vast, situated slightly higher in elevation than two other prominent families. This was because for a lengthy period—from before Huaihai City was built until several centuries thereafter—the Zhu Family stood singularly dominant among all the families. This was why Zhu Cheng and the contemporary members of the Zhu Family clung so tenaciously to their past glories, seemingly to the point of madness in Xiang Shi Yan’s eyes. The estate's blue tiles and white walls, along with bright red gates, appeared no different from the grand households of the mortal realm. Even the servile demeanor of the servants was reminiscent, down to the point that the attendant leading them possessed cultivation near the Foundation Establishment stage. Xiang Shi Yan couldn’t be sure if this was a deliberate show of strength by the Zhu Family to flaunt their resources. "I ordered the servants to prepare a guest room as soon as I heard you arrived. It's near the courtyard where the twins stay." As soon as Zhu Cheng stepped through the mansion’s gates, he straightened up, as if the grandeur of his residence granted him some invisible confidence. Just as Zhu Cheng waved a dismissive hand at the lowly cultivators with heads bowed in compliance, a woman's coy voice called out from behind them, "My lord, do you have a guest?" Xiang Shi Yan raised an eyebrow, surprised that even arriving at the Zhu residence a year and a half earlier, she still encountered the same scene. Turning around, she saw indeed it was the woman fleetingly appearing in her memories—a woman Xiang Shi Yan didn’t even remember the name of, one of Zhu Cheng's concubines. Though she had reshaped this world, the original story’s chain of events continued to roll forward inexorably, forcing this ‘minor character with only a few lines’ to step on stage and finish this filler scene. The woman’s eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears, enough to melt away any defenses in those she gazed at, yet when she locked gazes with Xiang Shi Yan, her look sharpened like soft blades, scrutinizing her critically. Having read the original work, Xiang Shi Yan knew this woman mistook her for Zhu Cheng's new love interest, which she found amusing. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes as she glanced over at Zhu Cheng, "And who might this be?" The man's face turned slightly ashen, troubled since he had only recently invoked the ‘brother-in-law’ card with Xiang Shi Yan, prompting him to give a low, forced cough. However, this concubine, lacking any discernment, mistakenly believed Zhu Cheng was discreetly explaining himself to her. She swayed to Zhu Cheng’s side, just about to link her arm with his, when he abruptly shrugged her off. "Haven’t I told you important guests are here, and you shouldn’t wander about freely?" Seeing the normally affectionate man suddenly turn stern, the woman’s face drained of color. She cast Zhu Cheng a disbelieving glance as if unable to comprehend what was happening, then swiftly averted her eyes, seemingly stung by his curt demeanor. "Leave us," he commanded. The woman’s body quivered slightly, daring not to pursue Xiang Shi Yan’s identity further. She kept her head down, quickly withdrawing with her maid in tow. Xiang Shi Yan unexpectedly felt a wave of pity for this unfamiliar woman. Both were characters conjured from thin air, but at least Xiang Shi Yan had the extensive narrative of a "primary heroine," whereas this woman's existence seemed solely designed for her to suffer Zhu Cheng's humiliation in a few terse exchanges. Xiang Shi Yan could sense that this woman's cultivation level did not exceed the Golden Core stage, which meant she was as young as she appeared. Was her current desolation a result of foolishly placing trust in the man's sweet words? Or was it because her beautiful dreams had burst like a bubble, awakening her to the harsh reality of her dependent and inferior status? "Host, are you feeling upset?" the system suddenly asked. "Just a bit," Xiang Shi Yan admitted, finding herself simultaneously engaged in an internal dialogue with the system, receiving occasional transmissions from Du Ruo, and managing Zhu Cheng’s incessant chattering—a feat impressive in its own right. Her disquiet wasn’t solely derived from this unknown woman; rather, it was the spark that reminded her of her tragically lost senior sister, filling her heart with sorrowful nostalgia. "In situations like this, I know a chant that can help soothe your mood. Please repeat after me—" Zhu Cheng noticed Xiang Shi Yan’s momentary distraction and perked up his ears, curious about what she might say. All she did was utter a seemingly nonsensical phrase. "To hell with gender exploitation." Xiang Shi Yan’s voice wasn't loud or soft, making it unclear if she was speaking to herself or to him. Zhu Cheng didn't immediately grasp her meaning, but a cold sweat dotted his forehead: "What does that mean, Junior Sister Xiang?" After uttering that line, Xiang Shi Yan did feel her mood lighten considerably. She took a deep breath and, addressing the visibly anxious Zhu Cheng, said, "What is the City Lord talking about? Have you taken any insight from my casual mumbling?" Zhu Cheng forced a smile. "Of course not." "That's good," Xiang Shi Yan remarked, not withholding a smile. "I wouldn’t want to refuse the City Lord's kindness. After a long journey and now being late at night, let’s skip the small talk." She called to the gatekeeper leading the way, "Would you be so kind as to guide me?" The gatekeeper looked to Zhu Cheng, who upon nodding, continued to timidly lead the way. Even the courtyard the Zhu Family assigned her was the same as in the original story. Xiang Shi Yan sifted through her fragmented memories for where the two sisters resided. Zhu Cheng genuinely seemed, as he claimed, eager to please this "sister-in-law." However, Xiang Shi Yan now knew things unknown to those in her future memories, unbothered then but important now. Sitting near the veranda leading to the courtyard was a girl about the same age as He He. The girl was dressed in exquisite silks and jade, her long black hair styled in intricate patterns by her maids. Though she was still young, like a doll painted with rouge, the light makeup still stood out on her youthful face. The girl idly swung her legs on the balcony, only lazily looking up at Xiang Shi Yan and the guide as they approached. "Miss, the Master instructed..." The servant guiding Xiang Shi Yan immediately recognized her as Zhu Yun, the elder of the twins, even though their appearances and attire should have been identical. Xiang Shi Yan wasn’t particularly familiar with Zhu Yun; she knew the younger sister Zhu Yu, who would eventually become her disciple, not the sister overlooked and left with the Zhu Family. The twins had vastly different personalities. Zhu Yun languidly lifted her eyelids but said nothing, merely pulling back her legs and dusting her clothes. Since her senior sister married Zhu Cheng years ago, the once-familiar face gradually faded from Xiang Shi Yan’s memory due to physical distance. Whether she wished it or not, the only thing she recalled now was that anguished face from when Gong Ning died in labor. And the young girl before her... looked just as Xiang Shi Yan remembered Gong Ning when they first met. However, Xiang Shi Yan couldn’t bring herself to confuse these two girls with their mother. Soft, gentle features flitted across Xiang Shi Yan’s mind, but all that stood before her was this indifferent girl, seemingly uninterested in everything, a stark contrast to her twin sister. Perhaps, in a stranger’s script, Xiang Shi Yan should have been indifferent to this girl, feeling nothing upon hearing of her demise, as if they were strangers. Perhaps she ought not to have looked back to see the girl watching as she flew away from Huaihai City, a pang of emotion rippling through her heart. Xiang Shi Yan hoped neither she nor these two girls would walk that path. It was, perhaps, her way of compensating for failing to save her senior sister. Zhu Yun turned away without a word, but Xiang Shi Yan noticed the crane-patterned jade she had been clutching. There were many things the "Xiang Shi Yan in her memories" didn’t know, such as how the twins were raised in different environments and how Zhu Cheng hastily had Zhu Yu moved to share Zhu Yun’s room to accommodate Xiang Shi Yan’s visit. Nor did she know that it was Zhu Yun, ultimately left in the Zhu Family, who found Xiang Shi Yan’s token among their mother’s belongings and sought her help through the Pine Crane Hall’s network. Author's Note: I posted this just a minute before the deadline! Today’s another lazy day for the bear! I've noticed I've been slacking on the writing lately, making the narrative very chaotic. I don’t know how to fix it, and it’s so agonizing. 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