Chapter 466 - 465: Heavy Burden

Chapter 466: Chapter 465: Heavy Burden

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in bamboo leaves, scattering mottled shadows across the ground.

The shadows on the ground were indistinct. Mu Lianxiao leaned against the bamboo, lifting his head to look up, and saw that the evergreen bamboo leaves remained a vibrant green even in winter.

Were it not for the cold wind blowing on his body and the barely warm sunshine, the bamboo forest’s season might have caused Mu Lianxiao a moment of confusion.

He recalled the scenes each time he visited the bamboo forest over the years.

Sometimes in spring, sometimes in autumn.

Mu Tang always stood silently in front of the dilapidated house. No matter what Mu Lianxiao asked, he refused to utter a word.

But now, Mu Lianxiao finally heard the answer he sought from Mu Tang’s mouth, yet didn’t expect the answer to be so heavy.

For nearly ten years, Mu Tang carried such a secret in ascetic practice; perhaps his passing was a kind of liberation for him.

Even if he couldn’t ascend to pure bliss in the West, at least he wouldn’t suffer physical agony anymore.

Nor suffer the torment of a guilty conscience.

Mu Liankang saw Mu Lianxiao hadn’t moved, so he came over, sat on the opposite side of the same bamboo, and mimicked Mu Lianxiao by gazing skyward.

"Ah Shao, do you see Second Uncle as that kind of person?" Mu Liankang asked in a deep voice.

Mu Lianxiao was slightly stunned, then bitterly smiled: "Big Brother, there are some things I’ve been hiding from you."

To prevent Mu Liankang from being swayed by Mu Yuanjing’s baseless slander, Mu Lianxiao planned to reveal his suspicions to Mu Liankang after he met Mu Tang.

But Mu Lianxiao hadn’t anticipated that Mu Yuanmou wasn’t just the one who harmed Mu Liankang; the deaths of his grandfather, father, and uncles were far from simple.

"Based on Mu Tang’s few words, how much do you think we can trust?" Mu Liankang asked again.

Mu Lianxiao lowered his gaze, calmly looking at the deceased Mu Tang, and said: "I don’t want to believe, yet I can’t help but believe."

Mu Liankang fell silent.

He had always been hopeful about family, but his feelings remained ambiguous.

Besides Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo, only Madam Wu and Mrs. Xu lingered in his thoughts, wishing to meet them.

As for Mu Yuanmou, Mu Liankang never felt close or estranged, so his anger and pain over Mu Yuanmou’s actions far surpassed any doubt.

But Mu Lianxiao was different.

Having spent years with Mu Yuanmou, words from kin were more destabilizing than a thousand Dazi soldiers besieging the city.

Even if one understands truth from falsehood, facing it with calmness is no easy task.

Mu Liankang understood this well; he didn’t press Mu Lianxiao but gave him time to process Mu Tang’s final words.

The two sat quietly for more than half an hour before finally standing up, brushing off the dirt from their clothes, and slowly leaving the bamboo forest.

Mu Tang’s funeral arrangements were left to Qinglian Temple.

Upon hearing of Master Kongming’s passing, the guest monk clasped his hands and chanted a Buddha name, eyes filled with compassion.

Leaving Qinglian Mountain and returning to the Tong City’s inn, Du Yunluo and Zhuang Ke immediately came forward.

Zhuang Ke, looking concerned, quickly asked: "Did the master say anything?"

As the words fell, seeing Mu Liankang and Mu Lianxiao both appeared grave, Zhuang Ke instinctively looked at Du Yunluo.

Du Yunluo exchanged a glance with Zhuang Ke, her heart pounding.

Mu Tang had remained silent for years, so Mu Lianxiao had grown accustomed to his silence. If Mu Tang had persisted in holding his tongue, Mu Lianxiao might have felt a regret tempered by acceptance.

But now, Du Yunluo saw weight in Mu Lianxiao’s eyes.

Mu Liankang took Zhuang Ke with him as they left, while Du Yunluo supported Mu Lianxiao into the room, letting him lie on the bed.

Jin Rui went outside to stand guard, leaving the couple alone inside.

Du Yunluo sat by the bedside, hesitantly asking: "What did Master Kongming say?"

Mu Lianxiao pursed his lips, enveloping Du Yunluo’s hand in his own, rubbing gently against her palm with his thumb.

Du Yunluo looked into Mu Lianxiao’s eyes.

Even with his eyes half-lidded, Du Yunluo couldn’t discern anything from his gaze, yet his emotions still conveyed through his touch.

Tiredness, an exhaustion deeply rooted within his soul.

"Mu Tang passed away." After a while, Mu Lianxiao solemnly said.

Du Yunluo froze, unable to believe, her body stiffened automatically, asking tremulously: "When did it happen?"

Was it before or after Mu Lianxiao’s arrival?

Had Mu Tang revealed the truth before dying?

Old evidences were hard to find; without Mu Tang, must hope lie in Mu Liankang’s recovery?

Mu Lianxiao’s voice was husky, saying: "In front of me and Big Brother, his wish was fulfilled.

Yunluo, he said many things; some we guessed before, others I knew nothing of.

Turns out, behind the scenes, my second uncle acted so insanely for the title!"

Du Yunluo’s heart pounded heavily, like a pounding drum, speeding up until it almost leapt from her throat.

What had she heard?

Mu Tang disclosed many secrets unknown to Mu Lianxiao, calling them insane.

Could it be Mu Tang knew the truth about the Old Marquis’s and Mu Yuance’s brother’s deaths?

Taking a sharp breath, suppressing her urgency, she didn’t push Mu Lianxiao, waiting for him to continue.

Mu Lianxiao spoke slowly, occasionally pausing.

Hearing those old matters firsthand now, recounting them felt entirely different.

Every sentence, every word, weighed heavily on Mu Lianxiao’s chest.

Du Yunluo listened attentively; Mu Lianxiao’s discoveries were more significant than she imagined.

Not only the truth of Mu Liankang’s disappearance but also the truth about the Old Marquis’s family battle, which she always wanted Mu Lianxiao to know, but lacked evidence to disclose.

Suddenly, everything surged like a runaway horse, kicking up clouds of dust, loosening old dirt to reveal bones beneath.

Du Yunluo thought she should be happy, feeling a deep inner elation.

The bloody past was laid bare not by her but by Mu Tang, whose identity and experience lent credibility to his words.

This should be good for Du Yunluo, but she felt no joy now.

Mu Lianxiao’s pain and stress were clear to her.

No matter how strong or brave, facing betrayal and hatred isn’t easy to confront serenely.

Her princely heir was neither cold-blooded nor indifferent. His passion and kindness now caused him great anguish.

Although he would emerge from it, he had to walk through, needing time.

Her throat tightened, her eyes misted with tears; she hurt for Mu Lianxiao.

Mu Lianxiao slowly opened his eyes, gazing deeply at Du Yunluo, whose eyes shimmered with tears, and asked: "Yunluo, how much did you guess?"