Chapter 1155: Family Sacrifice

Meifei led him through a chaotic cluster of gravestones, finally stopping before a large tomb.“We’re here,” she said. “All fifty members of my family are here, except for my sister.”

This large tomb, burying forty-nine people, was quite spacious, but its gravestone was small—just a simple two-foot-tall stele with a few characters: Mai Family Tomb.

Weeds grew thick around the family tomb, almost concealing the gravestone. As the three approached, they noticed two dried oranges of different sizes placed in front of the grave, one of them with three incense sticks inserted. A few orange peels lay not far away, suggesting one of the oranges had been eaten by an animal or a person.

Dong Rui looked at Meifei, who reached out to brush the dust off the stele. She said, “Occasionally, someone risks coming here to pay respects. There are still people who remember Chancellor Mai’s goodness.” Since Mai Liansheng was declared a traitor, visiting his grave carried a certain risk.

She took out fruits bought from the market and fresh flowers picked by the roadside, placed them before the stele, and offered three incense sticks.

He Lingchuan found a rectangular stone nearby; he didn’t know if it had fallen from another gravestone, but the characters on both sides were completely worn away. He drew his Floating Life Blade, planed the stone flat and straight, and then used the tip of the blade to engrave a few words onto its surface: “Eternal Mai Gong.” Afterward, he dug a hole beside the Mai family tombstone, pressed the long stone firmly into it, burying it three feet deep before packing the soil hard.

Meifei watched from the side. When He Lingchuan drew his blade and began to write, she understood, blinking several times.

Once the new stele was set, He Lingchuan had Lingguang take out cinnabar red lacquer, mix it with water, and place it before Meifei.“You can trace it.”With the brush full of vermilion ink, Meifei slowly raised it and began tracing the inscription in red. Though only a few words, she traced them very slowly, with utmost care for each stroke.

After so many years, she could finally openly visit the grave and inform her parents and clansmen that her great vengeance had been achieved!

Meifei’s hand suddenly trembled, and a tear slid down her smooth cheek. More and more tears flowed. She suddenly dropped the brush, embraced the gravestone, and wailed loudly! Crows nearby, startled by her cries, fluttered and flew away. Even He Lingchuan, with his hardened heart forged over years, detected the mournful and pained sorrow in her cries. For eight years, she had endured hardships and travails. This young woman’s path of revenge truly was paved with tears and blood.

The black wolf stayed by her side, constantly licking away the tears on her face.

After a long while, Meifei slowly quieted down. She took out a shovel and hoe, dug a small pit beside the Mai family tomb, placed two plain skirts, a wine cup, and a pair of straw sandals inside, then refilled the soil to form a small cenotaph.

Dong Rui was utterly confused. “Whose grave is this for?”

“My adoptive parents,” Meifei replied, “they lived near the Xishan Horse Farm.” Her words reminded the two men. Over two years ago, King Bo had brought Meifei back from near the Xishan Horse Farm, believing her to be the daughter of an ordinary family. It meant Meifei must have had a superficial “family” at the Xishan Horse Farm.

“Although I wasn’t their biological daughter, they treated me as their own. I actually felt the warmth of family in a fake home,” Meifei recalled, smiling as she squinted her eyes. “My adoptive mother’s cooking was delicious, and my adoptive father used to hide a small bottle of rice wine in the woodshed. When he craved it, he’d pretend to go to the latrine and sneak a couple of sips. My adoptive mother and I both knew, but we never exposed him.”

She pointed to a large stone and asked He Lingchuan, “Mr. He, could you please write an inscription for their gravestone?”

He Lingchuan drew his Floating Life Blade. “Come.” He then wrote a line of characters on the stone for Meifei: “Tomb of the Couple Zhao Aqiang and Ru Xiaozhen.”

Once the stele was erected, Meifei meticulously offered fruits to them.

Dong Rui asked, “When did they pass away?”

“A few days ago,” Meifei replied, lighting three incense sticks for her adoptive parents. “When King Bo ordered my arrest, both my adoptive parents hanged themselves. Their bodies were taken by the palace guards. They knew this day would come and were prepared,” she said, respectfully kowtowing three times. “They had a deep-seated grudge against Nangong Yan, though Grand Overseer Nangong himself probably didn’t know.” Even if Nangong Yan knew, he probably wouldn’t have cared.

Afterward, she began burning spirit money for both graves. She continued burning for over fifteen minutes. He Lingchuan and Dong Rui did not rush her.

After burning the last piece of spirit money, she wiped away her tears, turned to the two men, and smiled. “I’m alright now. My wish is fulfilled. I can go with you two.” A bit of paper ash still clung to the corner of Meifei’s lips, but for the first time, she displayed a relaxed and innocent smile. “So many families suffer unjustly and fall into eternal misery, never getting a chance to clear their names or avenge themselves. Compared to them, I am truly fortunate.” The burden on her shoulders had lifted; she could finally be at peace.

“We are heading east and cannot take a burden with us,” He Lingchuan said, taking out a dagger and tossing it back to her. “Let’s go our separate ways here.”Meifei snatched the dagger, her face filled with disbelief. “You… you’re not arresting me?”“You are free,” He Lingchuan said, smiling clearly as he looked into her wide, beautiful eyes. “Isn’t this what you’ve been striving for?” The victim of the case was no longer alive, and Emperor Mou and Mount Ling were no longer pursuing it. As the entrusted party, he had no compelling reason to continue.

As he spoke these words, Meifei’s eyes and face flushed. She put away the dagger and gave them a smile. “Thank you.” Her smile was like a hundred flowers blooming simultaneously, graceful and fragrant in the morning light.

Dong Rui couldn’t help but ask, “Where will you go? The bounty on you in Peng State hasn’t been lifted yet.”

“I don’t know yet, I haven’t thought about it,” Meifei replied, glancing at He Lingchuan, her misty eyes seeming to speak volumes. “When I was seeking revenge, I only thought about revenge.” She was free, but also seemed lost. With the sky vast and the land boundless, where would she go?

“A woman like you will surely find your direction,” He Lingchuan said. Then he urged Dong Rui to mount his horse. “The sky is vast and the waters long; we shall meet again.”

Dong Rui was still reluctant, casting one last look at Meifei. Such a beautiful woman was truly rare.

Before the horses had gone two steps, Meifei’s voice came from behind them.“Wait!”Dong Rui quickly reined in his horse.

He Lingchuan turned back to her. “Do you have anything else to say? Speak.”

Meifei bit her lip, then suddenly said, “I’m sorry, I lied to you before about the Bright Lantern.”

The horse snorted loudly. He Lingchuan patted its neck to soothe it. “What about the Bright Lantern?”

“Actually, everything I know about the Bright Lantern’s secrets came from jade slips that my father treasured. My father put a lot of effort into keeping those jade slips usable. Among them was a notebook, whose author was named ‘Immortal Chuoyun’.”

He Lingchuan’s eyebrows subtly raised, motioning for her to continue, though inwardly he was overjoyed. Immortal Chuoyun! The spider demon sisters had mentioned this person when they explained the key points about the Bright Lantern to him.