Wu Xin: The Monster Killer

Chapter 79 The Great Family

The second concubine was very clear in not allowing the two children to return home, but even if the two children received the two letters in time, how could they really obey and not return home for the funeral? The Ma family had never been a harmonious family, so Saiwei sat on the sofa and thought for a long time before finally looking up at Shengyi and saying, "We must go home, otherwise, not only would we be letting Mother down, but from a etiquette standpoint, it wouldn't be right. However, although Mother doesn't manage affairs, she's never lost her mind and would never write a letter to stop us from returning home without a reason. Perhaps some unknown secret has happened at home. We've been away for several months without contacting home, so of course we know nothing. In short, after we get home, we'll find an excuse to all stay in Mother's courtyard. If anything changes, two people are always better than one."

Sheng Yi's thoughts were never as meticulous as Sai Wei's, but the two had grown up together and seemed to have a connection, so she nodded as soon as she heard it.

Saiwei then turned to Wuxin, who was standing to the side, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. To be honest, she was a little nervous at the moment. Shengyi wasn't one to make decisions, and she desperately needed an accomplice. However, she had only known Wuxin for a day and a night, and in terms of friendship, it seemed she shouldn't get too close to him yet.

She hesitated, looking at Wuxin. Shengyi, sensing her hesitation, also turned her gaze to him. Both siblings were slightly hunched over, their brows furrowed, staring at him with pitiful expressions. Wuxin met their gazes and said hesitantly, "If you two need my help, just say the word." Then he smiled, "Anyway, I'm a carefree person with no ties."

Upon hearing this, the Ma siblings both breathed a sigh of relief. They had no one to rely on, and now that they suddenly had a companion, it was good.

It wasn't peak travel season, and before evening, the three of them had already entered the train compartment. The compartment was large, with four beds in total. Three beds were for sleeping, and one was for luggage. Wuxin only had a light canvas travel bag, which wasn't heavy at all. The Ma siblings, however, each had a large, heavy leather suitcase. Saiwei and Shengyi, having changed into simple clothes, sat side-by-side on the small bed, looking up at Wuxin climbing up and down to set up the luggage. Wuxin's movements were efficient, his face expressionless; he was simply working. After all the luggage was settled, he picked up the thermos and went to the end of the compartment to get hot water.

As night fell, the three of them lay down in their respective places, with no desire to sleep on the empty bed above Sheng Yi. A slight chill touched his chest; it was from a paper talisman he kept close to his body, containing Xiao Jian. Although his words weren't pleasant to hear, Xiao Jian still didn't want to leave him. He preferred to follow him everywhere.

The private room was quiet; all three were silent. Saiwei lay on his side, stealing glances at Wuxin diagonally above him. Wuxin lay flat on his back on the bed, his chest rising and falling. Saiwei was used to Shengyi, and now that he saw Wuxin was a size larger than Shengyi in every way, he was quite curious. The pain of losing his mother was gradually fading; after all, there had never been a situation of maternal love and filial piety in the Ma family. They were already considered close to the second concubine, but since their mother was usually unruly and her children didn't listen to her, their relationship wasn't very deep.

"With his poverty, it really won't work." Savi pondered methodically as the train swayed: "Unless he follows my fifth aunt's example and leaves his family. But my fifth aunt supported her husband for ten years, and in the end, he still ran off with a rich family. I heard that my fifth aunt is living a miserable life now, so I can't follow her example."

The night was deep, but her eyes were wide open and she couldn't close them. Her thoughts kept changing: "Could I ask someone to find him a small job? My fifth uncle is a complete playboy, but he's not like my fifth uncle. He doesn't lift a finger at home, but he's much more hardworking than my fifth uncle."

As the train jolted and moved forward, her thoughts drifted further and further away: "He's so poor he's wearing tattered socks. When we get to Beijing, I'll buy him a new set of clothes and shoes no matter what."

Saiwei was lost in thought, forgetting the time. Across from him, Shengyi lay fully clothed, already asleep. Having endured several days and nights of mental torment, the presence of a private bodyguard above him made him feel very safe, allowing him to sleep soundly.

Wu Xin quietly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. He knew Saiwei was spying on him, but he wasn't moved. It wasn't because Saiwei was bad; Saiwei was a clean and well-behaved young woman with nothing wrong with her. However, there was no possibility of them being a couple.

He couldn't enjoy the benefits of being human, yet he was constantly bound by human rules. Regarding Saiwei's covetousness, he had only four succinct words: "I can't reach that level."

The journey was smooth, and without much desire to hide in the compartment with the Ma siblings, and seemingly without much discussion, they entered Beijing. After getting off the train, they boarded a rickshaw, traveling through main streets and alleys, finally disappearing into a large hutong (traditional alleyway). Although the Ma family was large and troubled, they weren't a family that "passed down scholarship for generations." The patriarch's father had amassed his fortune in his later years, passing the business down to him, which, through decades of management, grew increasingly prosperous and large. Even when the Japanese arrived, the patriarch, adaptable to the changing winds, remained unscathed. Otherwise, given the harsh realities of the time, even ordinary traitors might not have the means to provide their children with such a life of luxury. The Ma children knew their father had a reputation as a major traitor, but for the sake of money, none dared to object to him. The only one who dared to challenge him was the eldest son, but he lived in Tianjin year-round, so even though both father and son were highly motivated, opportunities to fight were rare.

Saiwei and Shengyi led the way, and the journey was peaceful until they entered the house, at which point their faces broke into tears. They handed all their luggage to the servants in the gatehouse, who first gave Wuxin a wink, then burst into tears and ran towards the backyard. Wuxin, who had just entered the courtyard and was admiring the Western-style building in front of him, was startled by their explosive cries. Following the two as they ran forward, he passed several gates and groves of flowers and trees, finally entering a very elegant little courtyard. Saiwei and Shengyi cried and looked around frantically, calling out "Mother! Mother!" An old woman, a servant of the second concubine, came out from the house to greet them. Seeing the siblings return, she tearfully invited them into the house.

Saiwei and Shengyi were naturally very familiar with their mother's room, and with their minds preoccupied, their eyes were constantly scanning the room, even though they were sobbing. But before they could enter the inner bedroom, a maidservant suddenly called out, "Second Miss, Third Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is here!"

Saiwei raised an eyebrow at Shengyi, then turned and walked out alone. Wuxin hadn't even had a chance to enter the room yet, and was now standing at the door when she saw a pale-faced middle-aged man in a blue robe flash out from the moon gate in the corner of the courtyard.

With tears welling in his eyes, Saiwei leaned against the doorframe and cried, "Brother, where is Mother now? What sudden illness has she suffered from?"

The eldest son of the Ma family leaned on a black lacquered cane, steadied himself, and sighed. As if he had no affection for his younger sister and brother, he simply replied, "The doctor did the examination and said it was a myocardial infarction."

Then he turned his gaze to Wuxin beside Saiwei. Wuxin met his gaze and found that the young master had thick eyebrows, large eyes, a straight nose, and a rather dashing figure. The only flaw was that the tip of his nose was slightly hooked, adding a touch of sinister intent to his appearance. Putting age aside, in terms of appearance alone, he was clearly more handsome than both Saiwei and Shengyi.

"This is—" the young master began, but stopped mid-sentence, only nodding slightly at Wuxin.

Saiwei quickly replied, "He is a good friend that Shengyi met in Shanghai. We couldn't do anything along the way, and we relied entirely on him to take care of us."

As soon as she finished speaking, Sheng Yi came out, sobbing uncontrollably. She called out "Big Brother" in a thick nasal voice, then began to wail again. The young master seemed to feel a pang of sympathy. He sighed and stepped forward, nodded to Wu Xin again, and then extended his hand, saying, "Thank you for your concern. May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

Wuxin shook hands with him and replied in a low voice, "I grew up in a temple, and my Dharma name is Wuxin."

The young master replied, "Oh... is Master Wuxin still a monk?"

Wu Xin shook his head slightly, smiling without saying a word, neither confirming nor denying. The young master, not receiving a clear answer and not wanting to press further, introduced himself: "My surname is Ma, Ma Yinghao."

Wuxin was still smiling, but his smile had a touch of foolishness.

Ma Yinghao released his grip, letting Saiwei and Shengyi go to the mourning hall in the front building to see the second concubine. His tone was gentle and emotionless. He added, "Mom has been staying in the mourning hall."

The so-called "Mama" was the first wife that Master Ma had married a few years ago. She was younger than the concubines, only in her early thirties. If her family hadn't fallen on hard times, she wouldn't have married Master Ma as his second wife. None of the children in the family were her own, but according to custom, they all had to call her "Mama." Master Ma treated her indifferently, and she herself lived a similarly indifferent life.

Saiwei and Shengyi looked miserable as they left with Ma Yinghao. Before leaving, they glanced back at Wuxin and then instructed the old woman to pour tea for Wuxin.

Without a word, he entered the room. After the old woman finished serving tea and left, he took out a paper talisman from his pocket. He tore the talisman in half and whispered to the faint shadow in the air, "Go, follow them!"

Xiao Jian affectionately wrapped his arm around his neck, then disappeared in a flash.

In no time, Xiao Jian returned, a cold light hovering over his shoulder. He slowly sipped a cup of hot tea, while Xiao Jian chuckled in his ear, "There are so many people in the house. Big sister and big brother changed into white robes and are crying like dogs. The fat old woman on the bed is so ugly, there's a nail in her hair."

(End of this chapter)