26: Chapter 26 Peach Tree

Liu Mei's steps were somewhat heavy as she left the main hall, heading straight for the back mountain of Purple Bamboo Peak.

She stopped before a peach tree in full bloom with pink flowers.

A gentle breeze rustled the purple spirit bamboo, its shadows dancing, making the solitary peach tree stand out even more.

Liu Mei extended her slender, jade-like hand. Her fingertip carried a barely perceptible tremor as she slowly brushed against the slightly rough tree bark, as if communicating with an old friend.

Sunlight filtered through the swaying bamboo leaves, casting dappled light and shadow on her flawless profile.

Those bright eyes, which held the grace of a thousand years, were now filled with sorrow so thick it seemed tangible.

This tree had been planted for her by Chen Zilong himself.

Purple Bamboo Peak was covered with purple spirit bamboo, its spiritual energy misty and dense, except for this one corner.

It stood out because, years ago, when Chen Zilong became her disciple, he had stubbornly insisted on planting this ordinary, mortal peach tree right here.

On the tree's trunk, two crudely carved little figures holding hands were still clearly visible.

Liu Mei's beautiful eyes were fixed on the carving, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly.

Glistening tears silently gathered and shimmered in her eyes, before finally slipping down soundlessly to land on the scattered purple bamboo leaves beneath the tree.

One month ago, a flood of extremely vivid, suffocating 'memories' had abruptly surged into Liu Mei's mind without warning.

They were fragments of memory about her future fate.

In this vision of the future, a disciple named Ye Wushuang would become her personal disciple with a nearly monstrous, heaven-defying talent.

Initially, Liu Mei did not pay excessive attention to this new disciple, merely providing cultivation resources according to the rules and offering occasional guidance.

However, Ye Wushuang's talent was indeed astonishing. Possessing a top-grade fire-attribute spiritual root and the rare Supreme Sword Body, his cultivation progress could be described as advancing a thousand miles in a single day.

Liu Mei remained indifferent. After all, having lived for over a thousand years, what kind of peerless genius had she not seen?

Her eyes, which had seen through worldly affairs, did not stir with more waves because of Ye Wushuang.

Yet, it was precisely this habitual 'indifference' of hers that sowed the seeds for a cataclysmic disaster later.

Ye Wushuang actually targeted Chen Zilong!

He continuously schemed to frame and falsely accuse him.

One trumped-up charge after another was pinned on Chen Zilong's head.

Causing Chen Zilong's reputation within the Xuantian Sect to plummet off a cliff.

Liu Mei felt extremely perplexed at the time.

How could one person commit so many despicable mistakes one after another in such a short time?

Even after being exposed, showing no remorse and instead escalating his actions?

And each time he faced accusations, Chen Zilong would excitedly deny them vehemently, insisting he was being wronged.

But every single time, the 'evidence was conclusive,' and her other two disciples, Ye Xishui and Tu Shan Xiaoxiao, would step forward to testify.

Liu Mei initially sensed something was amiss. Her beautiful, distant-mountain-like brows slightly furrowed, and she resolved to investigate the matter privately.

However, her investigation had barely begun when Chen Zilong 'committed another offense.'

It was always Ye Wushuang who was the first to jump out, 'righteously indignant,' to report him.

With Ye Xishui and Tu Shan Xiaoxiao—these two disciples of stunning beauty whose usual words and deeds carried the restraint of well-bred ladies from great families—unanimously pointing fingers.

While Chen Zilong would futilely argue, 'I didn't do it.'

Liu Mei felt perturbed and restless. Her originally clear state of mind was thrown into complete disarray.

Gradually, a sense of powerlessness seized her, making her grow numb.

She began to shift from initially trusting Chen Zilong, to deeply suspecting him, and finally transforming into profound disappointment.

Liu Mei stopped trying to find evidence to exonerate Chen Zilong and instead personally dealt with his transgressions.

Each time she personally meted out punishment, she couldn't help but soften her heart, striving to ensure he didn't suffer too much physical pain.

Her tone was always gentle, carrying a trace of a barely perceptible plea, as she advised:

'Zilong, please don't be foolish anymore, alright?'

At that time, Liu Mei's brow carried deep weariness and helplessness, yet she still maintained the dignified demeanor befitting a Peak Master and an elder.

But Chen Zilong, each time, acted as if he had suffered a grievous injustice. His eyes would turn red with agitation, veins bulging on his forehead as he desperately denied the accusations.

Until that horrifying tragedy occurred, which shattered Liu Mei's heart and soul.

Chen Zilong was accused of 'raping' a maid from the Ye family named Ye Yun.

When Liu Mei learned of this, she trembled with rage all over. For the first time, her dignified face showed an uncontrollable fury!

But Chen Zilong was, after all, her disciple, and more importantly, the only son of her closest friend, Ji Fuyao.

Liu Mei suppressed the raging anger in her heart and mobilized all her connections and influence.

She even went so far as to pay a huge price, barely managing to preserve Chen Zilong's life.

In the end, she personally crippled all the cultivation Chen Zilong had painstakingly attained.

After doing all this, Liu Mei felt utterly drained, as if all the strength had been sucked from her body.

Therefore, when Chen Zilong was sent back to his family, she did not go to escort him.

Instead, dragging her exhausted body, she returned to her secluded chamber to go into seclusion, wanting only to escape this suffocating situation.

Because her heart was so weary, she just wanted peace and quiet.

Yet, merely a few days later, devastating news arrived like a bolt from the blue.

Chen Zilong had jumped off a cliff and committed suicide!

At that moment, Liu Mei felt as if her heart had been mercilessly shredded by countless sharp blades!

She broke down crying on the spot. Her usual aloof and composed demeanor vanished completely, leaving only a woman utterly crushed by immense grief.

She rushed frantically to the edge of the cliff from which Chen Zilong had jumped and stood there for a long, long time.

The mountain wind whipped her plain white robes, her black hair disheveled, her face deathly pale without a trace of color.

She seemed petrified, her eyes vacant as she stared into the bottomless ravine.

At that moment, Ye Wushuang walked up to her and, in a tone of gentle obedience and respect, tried to console her:

'Master, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Please moderate your grief and take care of your health.'

His face wore just the right amount of concern.

But Liu Mei paid no heed. It was as if her soul had already fallen into the abyss along with Chen Zilong.

In her mind, countless fragments related to Chen Zilong surged forth like a tidal wave:

When she first saw him as a newborn, she was the first outsider to hold him.

The warmth in her heart when he, in his childish voice, called her 'Aunt Liu' for the first time.

When she grew weary of handling the myriad trivial matters of Purple Bamboo Peak, it was he who silently managed the entire peak in an orderly manner, even neglecting his own cultivation for it.

The scene shifted to when Chen Zilong was eight years old. Under a peach blossom tree, he looked up at her with his small face, his eyes bright and earnest as he said seriously:

'Aunt Liu, you are so beautiful! When I grow up, I will definitely marry you and make you my wife!'

At that time, Liu Mei merely thought it was childish innocence. She smiled gently, not taking it seriously, yet still responded with tender indulgence:

'Alright. When you grow up and your cultivation surpasses Aunt Liu's, Aunt Liu will marry you.'

The corners of her lips had curved slightly then, her gaze soft, as if looking at her most cherished junior.

But...

There would be no 'afterwards' anymore...