65 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 85: Autumn Rain Zhu Yu lived alone in a secluded courtyard. While her father did not deprive her of food or clothing, he paid her little attention. The household servants, even less so, barely considered her among the family. They acknowledged only her father, sister, and several concubines. To outsiders, Zhu Yu seemed to receive scant affection compared to her twin sister. Yet, she had inherited the Zhu family's ancestral fire spiritual root, appearing more legitimate than Zhu Yun, who took after their mother with her wind spiritual root. Zhu Cheng, to prevent others from coveting them, concealed Zhu Yun’s heavenly-grade spiritual root talent. Externally, he claimed she inherited her mother's wind spiritual root. In a household that prided itself on lineage, Zhu Yu—a fire single spiritual root—possessed at least low-grade heavenly talent. Yet, the family head showed indifference, epitomizing the customs of prestigious old families. The servants, of three or four spiritual roots themselves, could only express half envy, half scorn. Her father did not hire a tutor for her, leaving her illiterate at ten, marking a stark contrast with her sister. At times, Zhu Yu felt like a stranger in her own home—ignored not out of indulgence but sheer disinterest. She grew like a wild weed, her fate of withering or thriving inconsequential. Zhu Yu had never left the Zhu estate, confined mostly to her little courtyard. Through bits of gossip from the servants, she pieced together images of the world beyond the estate. Their city was vast, built by her ancestors. But before she could feel pride, reality struck harshly—she mattered less than some male relatives of separate branches. Zhu Yu grew to detest the cold mansion and the city walls stretching beyond her sight. Each family branch leader believed the Zhu lineage must not "end," and until Zhu Cheng confirmed an heir, any male from a close relative might be adopted into the main family. And Zhu Yu? She was merely an unloved girl with no one to care; her eventual contribution was to be wed to someone of noble heritage to stabilize the family's shaky legacy. As a servant came to find her, Zhu Yu was precariously perched on a tree, slowly walking along a branch toward the wall. The maid's startled shout nearly made her fall. Zhu Yu slipped but luckily hooked her hands around a branch, swinging like a monkey before landing gracefully. The servants were terrified—under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have cared if she climbed the rock garden claiming sovereignty. But the master hurriedly ordered that the second daughter be moved to the eldest’s courtyard within half an hour. Rumors spread quickly, and soon the whole household knew—a lady from the mistress’s sect was visiting. A guest of this stature warranted such urgent measures. All understood the master's haste. In Huaihai City, even household servants were cultivators with varying realms from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment. Cultivators had long lifespans, so events from a dozen years ago were well remembered. Zhu Cheng had spoken so poetically, seeking a Dao companion in Qi Wei Jun from Jade Green Mountain. “Together forever, one couple,” he’d promised. Now, Qi Wei’s remains lay buried behind the mansion, while a neglected child and revelry filled the halls. Now, with a visitor from that sect, the household hastily hid the many beauties residing in the manor, as if ashamed. Thus, they dared not treat the second young miss casually. If she bore even a scratch during such a delicate time, Zhu Cheng’s wrath would be brutal. They surrounded her, checking her face meticulously to ensure she wasn’t injured before relaxing. Zhu Yu didn't understand why she had to move in with her sister suddenly. It had been ages since she last saw her. Their father occasionally took Zhu Yan with him, but only her. What did they do outside? Did others even know Zhu Yu existed? Or did people only know Zhu Yan, the outstanding eldest miss, unaware of the dusty second miss in the shadows? The maids hastily packed a few of her clothes, dragging her from the courtyard she barely left since childhood. Usually, her sister visited her. A sudden anxiety rose within Zhu Yu—she hadn’t seen Zhu Yan in so long, unaware of everything she might be dealing with. Did they still look identical? Was her sister taller now? Zhu Yan was always with their father, their relationship bound to be closer. The thoughts stung Zhu Yu with jealousy; she wanted to go out with them, eat with them, do... What did families do together? Staring at the vermilion walls in fear, the confined sky of her little courtyard seemed preferable. Why must she live with her sister? Yet Zhu Cheng's orders allowed no refusal. Within half an hour, Zhu Yu moved her belongings to Zhu Yan's courtyard as instructed. Zhu Yan herself was absent. The servants in Zhu Yan’s residence were in chaos—the beloved eldest miss was missing, and if the master found out, the consequences would be dire. Watching this flurry of activity, Zhu Yu inexplicably felt relief. As if this bustling had nothing to do with either of them, the sisters could perhaps lean on one another. Their father had brought Zhu Yan back and departed—he arranged everything, now off to meet the unexpected visitor. Zhu Yan, however, remained lost in an alcoholic daze. Not yet a cultivator, purely a mortal, she shouldn't have drunk such potent spiritual wine. It numbed her nerves yet burdened her meridians. Her head heavy, her body in pain, Zhu Yan vaguely remembered leaving the room and, somewhere along her blurred journey, found herself in an unfamiliar place. Perhaps it was the small garden she occasionally fed fish, she thought, shaking off the stupor. The familiar surroundings seemed disconnected from her recollection. In early autumn, the lotus leaves above the pond had yet to wither, and under the dim moonlight, red-and-white carp drifted beneath them. She crouched, watching the fish accustomed to being fed wiggle near. One fish, two fish... Trapped in the pond, I must rescue them. Suddenly nauseous, Zhu Yan vomited into the pond. Fortunately, she hadn’t eaten much, only expelling bile. Using her sleeve to wipe her mouth foolishly, she staggered over the railing and sat on the porch, legs dangling as she gazed emptily. Alone now, she discreetly took out a black jade crane pendant, stroking it absently under the moonlight, admiring the intricate carvings. Her father never spoke of her mother; the maids said her mother was the most beautiful, a talented genius from Jade Green Mountain, breaking into the Nascent Soul stage young, destined for a prestigious role had she not married Zhu Cheng. Sadly, she’d died in childbirth with the twins. Zhu Cheng kept no portraits or memorabilia, leaving Zhu Yan to feel her "mother" was a distant phantasm, her face only dreamt of briefly before melting upon waking. Secretly, Zhu Yan wished her mother hadn’t married her father, imagining a free life as an elder at Jade Green Mountain. Even if calamity annihilated the Zhu lineage, it wouldn’t concern her. Yet, drawn mysteriously to this woman, she couldn’t help but seek traces of her presence, actively searching for relics. Zhu Cheng, lacking sentimentality, had early cleared away any keepsakes from his late wife’s room for new concubines. Even when Zhu Yan chanced upon dusty remnants in a storeroom, she was shocked at the paucity. As if the once-living person had been merely a puppet. Rifling through the box, she found trivial books, old clothes, and jewelry. Only the crane-etched jade pendant stood out, catching her fancy. Only later did she notice the small, engraved character “Xiang” within the central carving. This pendant did not belong to Qi Wei Jun. Zhu Yun recently discovered the significance of the object she held. Passing by a small, unfamiliar auction house one day, she was taken aback to see the emblem etched on its sign matching exactly the one on her pendant. She quietly buried this secret within her heart, awaiting the right moment to uncover its truth. It was then that the stranger arrived. A woman, dressed in white, with a cold demeanor, met Zhu Yun's gaze as she sat dazed in a corridor. Their eyes locked briefly before the woman quickly looked away. Her gaze was penetrating, as if able to see through Zhu Yun's filth, and although those eyes were as icy as crystal, they almost burned her with their intensity. As their gazes parted, Zhu Yun noticed a black crane-etched jade hanging from the woman's waist, similar yet distinct to her own, with the central crane pattern identical. Clutching her jade pendant tightly, she secretly tucked it into her sleeve. Zhu Yun fled in a panic. She wouldn’t dream of rushing to the stranger, pleading for rescue. On the contrary, she wished not to see this person at all. The eyes of this "Xiang Shi Yan" bore into her heart with a strange pain. The looks she knew from adults were greedy, calculating, guilty—never had she seen such clarity. So pure. Surely, this person lived in a place untouched by filth, in a life impervious to disgraceful secrets. If only her mother hadn’t married Zhu Cheng, she might have lived such a life too... Zhu Yun felt like she existed merely as proof of someone else's tragic misstep, a constant reminder of Qi Wei Jun's grave mistake. Out of Xiang Shi Yan's sight, Zhu Yun began running aimlessly, yearning to escape to somewhere neither her father, the Bai family, nor the Xu family could find her. Her mind muddled, she hardly knew where she was heading and tripped over the uneven cobblestone path. She lay there, curling into a ball beneath the night sky, sparsely covered stars above not a single one shedding light on her. Finally, a shadow fell over her. Lifting her head from her arms, she saw a face identical to her own. “What are you doing here?” Zhu Yu asked softly, setting down her lantern, her expression tinged with sadness as she looked at her sister. “And you?” “I want to return to my own courtyard…” Zhu Yu blinked, her eyes glistening, “Everyone’s searching for you.” Unknowingly, Zhu Yun had fled in the direction of her sister’s quarters. Smiling bitterly, she stood, brushing dust from her clothes. Her knee was scraped; if her father found out, he would surely scold her. His greatest concern was protecting his most prized asset from any blemish. Seeing her stumble, Zhu Yu crouched in front of her sister, offering her slim shoulders for support. Though physical contact usually filled Zhu Yun with dread, her younger sister was an exception. Sniffling slightly, she gently wrapped her arms around Zhu Yu’s neck. “You smell awful,” Zhu Yu complained as she walked, the scent of cosmetics from her sister's skin tickling her nose. From behind came only a quiet hum in response. Holding the lantern in one hand, Zhu Yun clutched the jade pendant in the other. As Zhu Yu carried her, she slipped the pendant into her sister’s collar. While Zhu Yu felt it, she said nothing. Zhu Yu trusted that her sister always had a plan, always knew what to do. But she seemed so light, like carrying a tiny kitten that couldn’t even meow, only nuzzling her sister’s neck and silently shedding tears. “When will the rain stop…” murmured Zhu Yun, suddenly burying her face in her sister’s neck. “But it’s clear now,” Zhu Yu replied, feeling the cold liquid trailing down her neck. She fell silent once more. When would the rain in Huaihai City ever stop? Author's Note: Feels like a bit of filler this chapter. 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