The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 315 Ask Wang Cui (3k)

And so, Cui Shilu finally managed to invite Du Yuan into his home, but this time, he didn't feel happy or relaxed.

There was even a sense of impending doom.

At first, he thought he was worried about his aunt's safety, but then he realized that it might be more than that.

The world has changed drastically, yet Kyoto is unusually quiet. At this time of year, I was able to see an immortal, and my aunt is behaving so strangely.

So, is this really not the trigger for some major event?

With this thought in mind, Cui Shilu, who was leading the way, suddenly turned back, cupped his hands in greeting to Du Yuan, and asked:

"Master, may I ask you a question?"

Du Yuan laughed:

"But it doesn't matter!"

"The world has changed drastically. How should the Cui family conduct itself in order to protect itself?"

These words made Du Yuan pause slightly and stand still, then look at the other person seriously.

This made Cui Shilu panic and lower his head even further.

After gazing at him for a long time, Du Yuan finally said something carefully:
"You shouldn't be asking me this question."

Cui Shilu said urgently:

"Then whom should I ask, Immortal Master? Please enlighten me!"

Du Yuan smiled, then stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, saying:

"Ask Wang Cui!"

Cui Shilu immediately froze on the spot, wanting to ask Wang Cui?

What does this mean?

Just as he was about to ask, Du Yuan seemed to know what he was thinking and said:

"Many problems you have to understand yourself; others can't explain them to you!"

Just as Cui Shilu was asking Du Yuan a question, Du Yuan saw two balls of energy fighting fiercely above his head!

The first is purity, which is the fortune and merit accumulated by the Cui family over hundreds of years.

The first is ink, which represents the karma and evil deeds accumulated by the Cui family over hundreds of years of building their empire.

The two fought for a long time, and it was difficult to determine who was superior; they were evenly matched.

With just one glance, Du Yuan understood that this was not something she should interfere with. This was the karma that the Cui family had accumulated over hundreds of years.

Whether they live or die should be their own choice.

The Cui family has both merits and evils, and it is difficult to distinguish between them. This shows that it is difficult to judge good and evil, and life and death are both possible.

Du Yuan couldn't ignore the lives and deaths of more than ten thousand people in the Cui family and the merits accumulated by their ancestors over the centuries, but she also couldn't truly ignore the evil karma they had accumulated over the past few hundred years.

Therefore, Du Yuan could only offer limited guidance, leaving them to save themselves and realize the truth on their own.

Cui Shilu stood there, stunned, while Du Yuan walked away.

After taking a few steps forward, Du Yuan suddenly turned back and asked another question:
Why are you looking for me on behalf of your aunt?

Cui Shilu subconsciously answered:

“My aunt has always doted on me. If she has changed her mind, I naturally cannot sit idly by.”

Upon hearing this, Du Yuan nodded happily, and then added:
"Then let me say one more thing about your filial piety."

“Remember this well: our Confucian sages said: ‘Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.’ You should have heard this saying before, but whether you can understand it and put it into practice is up to you.”

Cui Shilu agreed in a panic, though he carefully memorized the instructions, he was still completely bewildered.

First, he said he wanted to ask Wang and Cui, and then he said, "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you."
He was very clever, so in an instant, countless ideas came to mind.

But precisely because he was too clever, he didn't know which one was truly important.

They were terrified that one wrong step would lead to utter ruin.

Du Yuan, on the other hand, had already reached the door.

As soon as I saw him come in.

There was no need for Cui Shilu to catch up and introduce him; the two ladies who had been waiting inside already knew that the person in front of them must be an immortal!
The reason is simple: this ethereal quality is almost blinding!

Therefore, the two noble ladies rose in unison and bowed, saying:

"This humble servant, Cui (Li), greets the venerable immortal!"

Du Yuan waved her hand and said:

"Ladies, there's no need for such formalities. May I ask what business you have with me?"

After the two ladies exchanged a glance, Madam Cui, knowing her elder sister's thoughts, gave Du Yuan another curtsy and then said:

"Sister seems to have some things to say to the immortal in private, so I will take my leave now!"

After saying that, he not only left, but the entire courtyard was also emptied shortly afterward.

Only then did Du Yuan slowly turn her gaze to the last lady, Madam Wang.

At that moment, her brows furrowed slightly involuntarily, and she vaguely had an answer in her heart.

As expected, the next moment, this lady, who came from the Langya Wang clan and was the eldest daughter of the Qinghe Cui clan, knelt down before Du Yuan, her voice filled with barely concealed fear: "I, Cui Yurou, beg the immortal master, is there any chance for my poor child to return?"

Every word was written in blood, every sentence was written with heartfelt emotion.

Du Yuan also let out a long sigh—it really was for this matter.

In fact, he had vaguely suspected this even before arriving here. Having traveled this far, how could he not see through Young Master Wang's situation?

Moreover, just moments before, he had clearly glimpsed a shadowy figure lingering behind Madam Wang: it was her in the prime of her life, laughing and playing with a child under the osmanthus tree.

The scene was heartwarming, as if it were yesterday.

Seeing that Du Yuan only sighed and did not answer for a long time, Madam Wang, who was lying on the ground, trembled more and more uncontrollably.

What she feared was nothing other than those three words—"never to come back."

Even though fear gripped her mind, she still gritted her teeth and pressed on with the question:

"Please enlighten me, Immortal Master. Is it possible for my child to return to my side?"

How could she, as a mother, not tell whether the person who returned was her own child?

Upon hearing that her usually unreliable son had finally returned home, she dropped everything and rushed over without a word.

Even though she kept saying "Finally, some peace and quiet" when the other person wasn't around, what mother in the world can truly leave her child who is wandering far away?

All she wanted to do was hold her child tightly in her arms and carefully check if he had lost weight or was injured.

But when she actually stood in front of that person, her heart skipped a beat, and a great panic instantly enveloped her—she suddenly felt that the person was not her child.

So she didn't dare to go up and hug him, but just stood there quietly and asked softly, "You're finally back?"

The other person seemed to have noticed her unusual behavior and deliberately mentioned his trip to the southwest, saying that he had gained a lot from the trip and had already turned over a new leaf.

Later, when talking with the elders of the clan, he mentioned many details of their past interactions, both openly and subtly—things that were secrets that no outsider could possibly know.

Especially for her: he remembered everything she remembered about their childhood, their youthful thoughts; he could even recall many things she herself had long forgotten, with just the right amount of intimacy and reminiscence in his tone.

At this point, even her husband completely let down his guard, and exclaimed to everyone present with barely suppressed joy, "My son has finally seen the error of his ways!"

Only she retreated further and further away from the growing crowd.

Because she knew better than anyone that her child had always been unpredictable, absurd, and willful, only interested in things for a short time and accomplishing nothing. Only when he caused trouble would he frantically run into her arms for protection.

He was an incompetent man who would make anyone sigh, and he was never the composed and prudent young master of Langya before them.

Even if one's own child truly repents and returns after completing their studies, they should still stammer and scratch their head in front of her, before finally burying their face in her arms and saying:
"Mom, I miss you."

Then he would keep showing off to her what he had learned and what he had understood.

It was certainly not like that day, when he stood respectfully before her, explaining everything to her with every reasonable and accurate word.

Although he seemed to revert to his old ways in the following days, she knew that wasn't what he truly thought; it was just an act for her or for others to see.

Deep down, he was still the same person he had met that day—a person who was respectful yet distant from everyone.

Du Yuan was at a loss for words. Even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes.

After much deliberation, he carefully spoke to Madam Wang:
“Madam, you should probably discuss these issues with him in person. If you would like, I can bring him here.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang's eyes quickly dimmed.

Then he shook his head and said:

"Thank you for your kindness, Immortal Master, but it's no need, no need at all."

Du Yuan frowned and said:
"Madam clearly wants to clarify everything face to face, so why go through all this? If you have any concerns, please speak frankly, and I will help in any way I can!"

Madam Wang remained silent for a long time, and Du Yuan did not urge her, but waited quietly.

Finally, Madam Wang slowly said:

“He is very good. He is good to me, good to my husband, and extremely good to the entire Langya Wang clan and even the Cui clan. The elders in my family praise him, and the distinguished guests value him highly.”

“I am Chengsi’s mother, and also Lady Wang’s wife. I cannot be Cui’s daughter. Immortal Master, I truly cannot.”

A useless, trouble-making playboy versus a sensible, discreet, capable, and even accomplished scholar who has returned from studying under immortals—it's clear at a glance who is more important.

At this point, the exceptionally intelligent Lady Wang even said something to Du Yuan:
"Immortal, you must be familiar with my current child, right? After all, my previous child was not capable enough to catch your eye. In that case, I beg you to stop here!"

She should have swallowed everything long ago, but just as she couldn't bring herself to say it, she also couldn't bear it.

That's why she took that step, which was absolutely inappropriate for her status.

Now that the answer is 'clear', she can only let herself continue to be bound by everything in the past.

Du Yuan frowned deeply, then quickly stepped forward and said to her:
"And then you tried to kill yourself?"

Madam Wang couldn't help but tremble.

Du Yuan also shook her head and said:
"This matter is not complicated, Madam, you can rest assured. And please believe that it is the best choice for me to make the arrangements."

After saying this, Du Yuan waited for Madam Wang's reply.

After a long period of hesitation and struggle, Madam Wang bowed to Du Yuanyi again and said:

"Please make arrangements, Immortal Master! This humble woman thanks you!"

Du Yuan nodded and then walked away quickly. Just as Du Yuan turned and walked past the corner of the corridor, a barely perceptible wisp of sword energy was gently released as he turned.

After Du Yuan disappeared from the spot, only a poisonous insect that had just spread its wings was left behind.

(End of this chapter)