FID – Chapter 981

Chapter 981 — The Northwest of Nanling Is Xiliang

Liu Gen, Liu Zhi, and the others were equally puzzled. “Ya’er, you just said northwest? Does it have something to do with Miaojiang? How would you know this?”

“If you know, tell the masters quickly. It might be a huge help!”

Feng Qingbai, Liu Zhixia, and the others didn’t speak to press her, but their gazes never wavered.

As someone timid as a mouse, Liu Ya wouldn’t say those two words without reason. In a situation like this, even breathing required courage—let alone speaking!

Peeking out from behind Liu Zhi, Liu Ya looked at Liu Yusheng, then at Liu Zhiqiu, and finally at Wei Zi. She bit her lip and said, “On my great-grandfather’s deathbed, he said he wanted to go back to the northwest. He said that the hearts of outsiders are more ugly and evil than the snakes, insects, rats, and ants there. I… I guess… maybe Miaojiang is in the northwest.”

“Ya’er, have you heard it right?” Liu Tiao asked, even more puzzled. “You were only a little kid when your great-grandfather passed away. And none of us ever heard these words before.”

Liu Gen and Liu Zhi exchanged confused glances. Even Uncle Liu frowned. When the elders had passed, they left final words, but they were nothing like this.

Seeing that her family didn’t believe her, Liu Ya grew anxious. “It’s true! Great-Grandfather said it! I was the only one there! He also said that if there was ever a chance, I should go back home. When they see me, they would know I’m one of their descendants! He wanted me to return home and never come out again!”

As she spoke, Liu Ya brushed aside the hair at the back of her neck, revealing a five-petal flower birthmark.

The hall fell silent.

Thinking no one still believed her, Liu Ya let her hair fall back into place, lowered her head in gloom, and shrank further behind Liu Zhi—almost completely hiding herself.

“Ya’er, thank you. This information is very useful to us.”

Her small head peeked out again, eyes sparkling as she looked at Liu Yusheng. “Madam, do you believe me?”

“I believe you,” Liu Yusheng said, smiling gently.

The girl’s cheeks immediately flushed red, and she ducked back—this time out of embarrassment.

Wei Zi subtly withdrew his gaze, a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Gentle as a rabbit, timid as a mouse, easily flustered and blushing; just a little acknowledgment could make her as happy as receiving the greatest reward.

He had never seen a girl like this.

It was amusing. It was also pitiable. 

He pitied the hardships she had endured.

Sometimes, beauty itself is a kind of original sin.

Feng Qingbai rolled up the sheepskin scroll and returned it to Uncle Liu, looking at the family seriously. “This information is indeed useful to us. Thank you.”

“M-Master, you mustn’t say that. We are just servants; we are not worthy of such thanks. The masters have shown kindness to our family. We are only happy to be of help,” Uncle Liu replied awkwardly.

A King was actually thanking them; they felt unworthy.

Besides, the help they provided was nothing compared to the favor the master had shown their family. It made them feel ashamed.

“Uncle Liu, your leg needs at least half a month of bed rest for the bone to fully heal. Let Liu Tiao carry you back to rest. Do not do this again next time,” Liu Yusheng said with a smile, signaling Liu Tiao to lift the elder. “Watch over him. Even in urgent matters, there’s no need to rush this moment. Endure the recovery, and everything will be fine afterward.”

“We understand. Thank you, Madam.”

Once Uncle Liu and his family had left, the hall finally began to discuss the information they had just obtained.

“What do you all think?” Liu Zhiqiu asked.

Liu Yusheng said, “I believe what Liu Ya said is true. I have a theory: Uncle Liu’s ancestors were likely originally from Miaojiang. As for why they ended up as household-born servants, that’s long past and cannot be traced. But there is one crucial point—Liu Ya’s birthmark.”

Feng Qingbai nodded. “That birthmark is likely a mark of the Miaojiang lineage among women. That’s why their ancestors said what they did. Upon seeing the mark, they would recognize Liu Ya as one of their descendants.”

“But Liu Ye doesn’t have that birthmark on the back of her neck,” Liu Muqiu said, puzzled. “If they come from the same line, why does only Liu Ya have the mark while Liu Ye doesn’t? She couldn’t have been adopted, could she?”

“Perhaps not every female has that mark. There could be other secrets involved as well,” Liu Zhixia said, her eyes deep and thoughtful. “Miaojiang is exclusionary. If Liu Ya leads us there, do you think we could actually enter?”

Feng Qingbai raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with Liu Zhixia—they were thinking along the same lines.

Liu Ya could be their key to entering Miaojiang.

If that worked, Qinglian might yet be saved.

“This matter requires careful planning. First, we need to persuade Uncle Liu’s family to let her accompany us to find Miaojiang. Second, we must make it clear to them that we will not bring disaster to Miaojiang.”

Uncle Liu’s family might not even realize they were descendants of Miaojiang, and they might not have deep feelings for that legendary place. But since they needed their help, it was only proper to explain the situation clearly.

If you want someone to genuinely help, you must give sincerity in return, not force them.

Feng Qingbai pondered for a moment. “Wei Zi, first send a letter to Xue Qinglian and inform him of what’s happened here. Tell him to head northwest, and don’t let him waste time lingering in the southwest.”

“Yes, Master.”

“As for Uncle Liu’s side, I’ll go speak with them,” Liu Zhiqiu said. “After all, I’m the master here; it’ll be easier for me to talk.”

That bastard Xue Qinglian; the most shameless thing he’d ever done was actually all for that bastard! Just thinking about it made him fume. When that guy returns properly, he’d make him pay.

“Second Brother, let me go. I’m a woman. It’ll be easier for me to speak, and Liu Ya also trusts me,” Liu Yusheng countered his suggestion. “Tonight, everyone should rest. Tomorrow, I’ll go speak with them. Pulling these things out all at once would be unsettling for their family. They need some time to process it.”

Suddenly transitioning from being household-born servants to potentially being descendants of Miaojiang—anyone would be unsettled.

Besides, there were still too many questions left unanswered.

Everyone needed time to calm down and sort out their thoughts.

Back in her room, lying on the bed, Liu Yusheng’s mind was still on Uncle Liu’s family and Miaojiang.

It wasn’t until the man wrapped her in a possessive embrace that she came back to reality.

“Things are slowly moving in the right direction. Thinking too much now won’t help—rest first, okay?” the man said.

“Don’t you feel any curiosity about what kind of place Miaojiang actually is? Or why Uncle Liu’s ancestors ended up in the outside world and became servants?”

“Shengsheng, I have many ways to shut your mouth. Do you want to do it yourself, or should I?”

“……”

Under his domineering pressure, Liu Yusheng went to sleep.

After all, no matter how much she thought, some unresolved questions would still have no answers. As the man had said, overthinking was useless.

So she might as well sleep.

The woman in his arms soon relaxed, her breathing becoming calm and steady. With a palm, he extinguished the lamp, yet Feng Qingbai did not immediately close his eyes.

Miaojiang… northwest.

The northwest of Nanling was Xiliang.