Fortune Across the World

Chapter 194: Awakening from a Dream in the Drunken Blossom Shade (Part 1)

Ding Qiyu glanced sideways at Zhuyi, meeting her calm gaze, and after a moment's silence, echoed the sentiment, "Yes, Zhuyi and I are close friends."

The old master squinted slightly, not entirely convinced. The Palace Master, who had watched her daughter grow up, knew that the calmer Zhuyi appeared, the more likely something was amiss. There was undoubtedly a deeper connection between these two young ones.

The atmosphere grew strangely quiet for a moment. Master Huai and his wife had grown accustomed to the peculiar tension between the two over the past few days. Master Huai quickly stepped in to ease the situation, "Brother, Sister-in-law, Yu'er is now my disciple as well. I'm her Master Huai, and you're her Master Chen. Zhuyi has fulfilled your promise from back then, acknowledging Lingyu and me as her godparents. So, we're even closer, haha."

Aunt Jade interjected, "Let the younger generation resolve their matters themselves. The pressing issue is dealing with those bandits from the Zhenxiao Sect."

The topic was temporarily set aside. Yu Miao and the Zhenxiao Sect disciples were still entrenched outside Danming Mountain, allowing no time for distractions. The four who had returned each contributed their skills, providing new, crucial strength to Qianli Palace. Aunt Jade tended to the severely injured disciples with her medical expertise. As the Young Palace Master, Le Zhuyi volunteered to go out and fight the enemies. The Palace Master, stationed at Yan Tian Hall, reflecting on the near loss of her daughter, reconsidered her attitude towards her daughter and disciples. Although reluctant to let Zhuyi take risks, she eventually consented to her resolve. To support his daughter, Master Chen (the old master) also took to the battlefield. Ding Qiyu and Master Huai collaborated to rearm the disciples with mechanical weapons, enhancing the power of the Lihuo Whip with their combined ingenuity.

Busy with the mechanical tasks, Ding Qiyu rarely saw Le Zhuyi, who was stationed at the battlefield. Zhuyi could only sense Ding Qiyu's presence through the powerful new weapons, imagining her focused expression as she crafted them. Similarly, Ding Qiyu gleaned information about the battle and whether her cherished one had been harmed through snippets of conversation.

The untold half of a story from over a decade ago was shared by Master Chen with Master Huai, allowing Ding Qiyu to be privy to it as well. Master Chen's full name was Zhu Chenjun, and he and the Palace Master had deep-seated enmity with the Zhenxiao Sect. Yu Miao had coveted the Palace Master's beauty and Qianli Palace's power, and after secretly harming Master Huai, he orchestrated a flawless scheme that deceived the drunken Master Chen, leading him to mistakenly believe the Palace Master was unfaithful. In a moment of rashness and confusion, he accidentally injured the eight-months-pregnant Palace Master. Witnessing his beloved lying in a pool of blood, Master Chen realized his grave mistake.

His impulsive actions deeply wounded the Palace Master, who only wished to save her child and never see Master Chen again.

Believing their child could not survive, Master Chen, overwhelmed by grief and remorse, succumbed to the urge to flee, irresponsibly abandoning his love in despair and wandering aimlessly for years before settling in Canghuan, living as a reclusive drunkard.

Although Zhuyi survived with the doctors' combined efforts, her father's blow left her born at eight months with severely damaged health, marking the beginning of her lifelong suffering on moonlit nights.

...

The tide of the deadly battle at Qianli Palace gradually turned. With ample mechanical weapons, Ding Qiyu, unable to bear the separation, wished to make one last contribution to the palace and to Zhuyi. She took her Wuchang Sword and joined the battlefield alongside Zhuyi, finally executing their practiced techniques, defeating countless foes.