bookbashuk Chapter 156 The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Chapter 156 The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Feng Changyuan gave a wry smile, knowing that forcibly stopping him would only make the situation more awkward, so he sighed and said, "Very well, since Fellow Daoist Chen insists so much... please come with me, Little Deer is in her own courtyard."
After saying that, he no longer hesitated, turned around and led the way, heading straight towards a more secluded area deeper in the valley.
Feng Yue and Feng Lie, their faces dark, refused to accompany them any longer. After giving Chen Anran and the other two a vicious glare, they left with grim expressions.
The group walked through several corridors and past several artificial hills and streams, finally arriving at a more refined, independent courtyard with a distinctly girlish atmosphere. The courtyard gate was ajar, and a plaque reading "Luming Garden" hung above the lintel.
Feng Changyuan stopped in front of the gate of "Luming Garden" with a complicated expression on his face. He turned to Chen Anran and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, Xiaolu... she's inside. You can go in yourselves. I won't disturb you any longer." After saying that, for some unknown reason, he cupped his hands in a slightly hasty gesture, turned around and left quickly.
Chen Anran exchanged a glance with Qi Lan and Huiming. Qi Lan shrugged, with an expression that said, "Since we're already here, let's take a look." Huiming, on the other hand, maintained her usual meek and compassionate demeanor.
Chen Anran took a deep breath and reached out to push open the slightly ajar courtyard gate.
The courtyard was decorated quite elegantly, with several plum trees exuding fragrance in the winter, and a swing set up in one corner. However, out of place in this classical courtyard, a strong electronic music rhythm and the sound effect of English dialogue such as "...Weakness! Got it!" could be faintly heard from the tightly closed carved wooden windows of the main house.
Chen Anran's expression suddenly turned strange. He slowly stepped forward and knocked on the door.
The music stopped, and a slightly annoyed yet somewhat familiar female voice came through: "Who is it? Didn't I tell you not to bother me? This is a crucial moment in conquering Kamoshida's palace!"
Chen Anran: "..."
Qi Lan & Hui Ming: "???"
Chen Anran cleared her throat and said, "Third Senior Sister, it's me."
The room fell silent instantly.
Then came a flurry of noise, as if something had been knocked over, followed by hurried footsteps.
With a creak, the door was suddenly pulled open.
The person who appeared behind the door was Feng Xiaolu.
She was wearing a fluffy pink onesie with a reindeer antler hat, her hair casually tied into a bun with a few strands sticking out playfully. She held a half-eaten potato chip in one hand, with crumbs stuck to the corner of her mouth, while her other hand remained in a door-opening position.
Her baby face, which had initially shown a hint of annoyance, was instantly replaced by immense astonishment and a touch of guilt upon recognizing who had entered through the door. She blinked her large, round eyes, glancing at Chen Anran, then at Qi Lan and Huiming behind him, whose expressions varied.
Seeing this, Chen Anran felt a terrible headache coming on. "Senior sister, have you ever heard the story of 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'? This is the second time, isn't it?"
After speaking, Chen Anran looked inside and saw that the room was furnished in a classic and elegant style, with several bags of potato chips of different flavors and half-empty Coke bottles scattered around. On the TV screen in the center, the iconic UI of Persona 5 was displayed.
Chen Anran remained silent for a full five seconds.
He had imagined many scenarios of seeing Feng Xiaolu—she under house arrest, weeping all the time; she fighting back fiercely, going on a hunger strike to show her resolve; she looking haggard, her eyes filled with despair…
I never imagined she would look like this—wearing cartoon pajamas, eating junk food, addicted to video games, and looking... healthy and even a little rounder than when she was at the Cloud Hidden Sect?
Qi Lan pulled down her hat brim and let out a sneer without any politeness: "Oh, Miss Feng, it seems your 'imprisonment' life is quite comfortable, huh? SOS? I thought you were locked in a water dungeon."
Huiming clasped his hands together and said expressionlessly, "Amitabha, benefactor Feng... I hope you are well."
Feng Xiaolu's face flushed crimson, the color spreading to her ears. She frantically shoved the potato chips behind her back, trying to wipe the crumbs from her mouth, stammering, "No...it's not what you think! I...I'm...it's mental numbness! Yes! Using a decadent lifestyle to numb the pain of this forced marriage!"
Chen Anran finally found his voice, and pointed expressionlessly at the computer screen: "So, conquering the Hall of Fame is also part of numbing the pain?"
Feng Xiaolu: "...Uh, this is a strategy game! It's good for mental training! It helps me stay clear-headed amidst complex family struggles!"
Qi Lan leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, adding coolly, "And then, while you're at it, grab some potato chips and drink some cola to replenish the energy you need to 'stay awake'?"
Feng Xiaolu was speechless, her face turning bright red. She stamped her foot, "Things aren't as they seem!"
She quickly stepped aside to clear the doorway. "Come in! Don't let anyone else see us!"
Seeing that her expression didn't seem fake, and that behind her anxiety and guilt lay genuine worry, Chen Anran gave Qi Lan and Huiming a wink, and the three of them quickly slipped into the room. Feng Xiaolu immediately closed the door and locked it.
Inside the room, the game music still faintly echoed, creating an eerie yet harmonious contrast with the classical and elegant furnishings.
Feng Xiaolu forgot about the games and snacks, pulled Chen Anran to sit on the carved wooden chair with soft cushions, and moved a stool to sit opposite him, nervously twisting the fluffy edges of her pajamas.
"Junior Brother, I really didn't lie to you." Feng Xiaolu raised her face, her eyes slightly red, revealing a helpless expression. "I really didn't lie, Junior Brother, if you hadn't come, I really wouldn't know what to do."
When Chen Anran saw that Feng Xiaolu's eyes were slightly red and her expression seemed genuine, his heart softened at the sight of his usually lively and cheerful senior sister showing such rare helplessness. The helplessness he felt earlier because of the "boy who cried wolf" instantly vanished.
He softened his tone and said gently, "Third Senior Sister, don't rush, tell me slowly. What exactly happened? What you mentioned on the phone before about the family exchange, the competition, and the marriage alliance that Feng Changyuan and the others mentioned..."
Feng Xiaolu nodded vigorously, sniffed, and was about to speak when her gaze fell on the young monk who had been standing quietly behind Chen Anran. A hint of doubt and inquiry flashed in her eyes. This monk had a calm demeanor, completely different from Qi Lan's sharpness. She had been so busy explaining her situation that she hadn't had a chance to ask him anything.
Huiming sensed her gaze and, without Chen Anran's prompting, stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly. "This humble monk is Huiming, a former disciple of the Vajra Temple. Due to the evil deeds of my master, Shi Haisheng, all my past beliefs in 'righteousness' and 'evil' were shattered, leaving me confused. Fortunately, Master Chen did not abandon me, dispelling my confusion and allowing me to follow him, listen to the Great Dao, and seek enlightenment. If I have offended you in the past, I hope you will forgive me."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaolu waved her hands repeatedly, "Oh, hello, hello, I'm Feng Xiaolu. It's nothing, it's nothing. Following Junior Brother will lead to a bright future!"
Chen Anran couldn't help but sigh. What do you mean by "following me will lead to a bright future"? Yes, I brought in a statue of Guan Yu, but that doesn't mean I've become a member of the Triads.
Chen Anran rubbed his temples helplessly, deciding to put aside the "bright future" claim for the time being. He steered the conversation back on track: "Third Senior Sister, let's get down to business. What exactly is this arranged marriage? Since you're unwilling, why don't you just refuse? Does the Feng family really intend to force you?"
The relaxed expression on Feng Xiaolu's face vanished instantly, replaced by annoyance and helplessness. She scratched her hair, making her already messy bun even worse.
"Rejected? Wasn't my rejection obvious enough?" She sighed, pointing to the computer. "I can barely even play games anymore, all because of this!"
She lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard: "When I first came back, these people were really good to me, showering me with all sorts of resources to help me cultivate, and showing me great care and concern. I thought I had come home and was quite happy. But then things gradually changed."
"They started frequently mentioning that Jiang guy from the Jiang family in Shu... Jiang Yun! Yes, that's him. They talked about how talented he was, how good his character was, how he was already at the late stage of Qi Refining at such a young age, and how he was a strong contender for the next head of the Jiang family. Then they started implying how important the marriage alliance between the two families was to the Feng family, and how helpful it would be for my future cultivation..."
Feng Xiaolu pouted. "I ignored them at first, but then they got more and more blunt, so I made it clear I didn't want to! And what happened?" She spread her hands. "My eldest uncle, who is now the head of the Feng family, didn't directly force me, but those elders, especially my fourth uncle Feng Yue, take turns 'persuading' me every day, talking about the family's nurturing grace, about how cultivators are inherently a community of shared interests, about how feelings can be cultivated after marriage... It's so annoying!"
"So you sent me an SOS?" Chen Anran raised an eyebrow.
"What else?" Feng Xiaolu said matter-of-factly. "Although they didn't lock me up or restrict my cultivation, it's practically house arrest! They won't let me leave the valley freely, under the guise of 'quiet preparation.' That so-called exchange meeting was basically a large-scale matchmaking event! The young scions of various families meet up, and the competitions and sparring are just a pretext. The real purpose is for them to get to know each other and discuss marriage!"
She grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, grabbing a large gulp of her leftover cola. "I heard the Jiang family is very enthusiastic. Anyway, the elders seem to think this meeting is just a formality, and things will be settled right away. I'm so anxious! If I don't find a solution soon, things will be much harder once it's finalized!"
Feng Xiaolu finished speaking in one breath, her chest heaving slightly, clearly indicating that she had been bottling up a lot of grievances and anxiety lately. She looked at Chen Anran, her eyes filled with expectation: "Junior Brother, you're my lifeline now! I know I was wrong to cry wolf last time, but I was forced into it then… This time it's for real!"
Chen Anran looked at her, feeling both annoyed and heartbroken. He pondered for a moment and asked, "So, the Feng family isn't a monolithic entity either. The patriarch's attitude is ambiguous, while the elders, represented by Feng Yue, are pushing this matter forward?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Feng Xiaolu nodded vigorously. "My parents died early, so the only people who have influence in the clan are my uncle and the elders. My uncle seems a bit hesitant, but he can't resist Feng Yue and the others talking about family interests and the thousand-year-old tradition every day."
"Have you met Jiang Yun? What's he like?" Chen Anran asked again. Knowing your enemy is the key to finding a breakthrough.
Feng Xiaolu frowned and thought for a moment: "I've met him twice, during the pre-exchange event. He... he looks respectable, and his cultivation is indeed not weak, but... his eyes are a bit strange, he looks at me like I'm his brother."
"Brother?" Chen Anran and Huiming didn't react at first, but Qi Lan, who was standing to the side with her arms crossed, suddenly lit up.
"They should be sisters, right?" Qi Lan's lips curled slightly. "I heard that 0 and 1 are very popular in the cultivation circles of Sichuan now."
Qi Lan's earth-shattering words plunged the room into a brief, deathly silence.
Feng Xiaolu was taken aback at first, then her eyes widened suddenly, her face instantly lighting up with intense gossip. She grabbed Qi Lan's arm:
"Sister! Tell me the details! How did you know? Is there some juicy gossip?!"
Qi Lan lowered the brim of her hat, a hint of amusement flashing in her amber eyes: "I only remembered it after you told me. I remember once when I went to Longhu Mountain, a fellow Daoist told me that the younger generation of the Jiang family had a strange atmosphere. Their eldest son, Jiang Yun, especially loved to spar with his inseparable 'sworn brother,' and their relationship... was exceptionally good. This wasn't a secret in their little circle, but out of consideration for the Jiang family's reputation, no one brought it up openly."
Feng Xiaolu's mouth gaped open, wide enough to fit an egg, and after a long while, she suddenly slapped her thigh, both angry and amused: "No wonder he looked at me so strangely, without any enthusiasm, just perfunctory and appraising! So he was just going through the motions, just dealing with his family?!"
The more she thought about it, the more she realized it made sense, and all the awkwardness she felt at the exchange meeting became clear. Jiang Yun was polite and distant towards her, and there was indeed always a quiet, handsome young man by her side, and the atmosphere between the two was indeed a little too intimate.
Chen Anran and Huiming shivered and felt a chill run down their spines.
They were no longer worried about Feng Xiaolu, but instead began to worry about their own safety...
The Jiang family of Sichuan... should not be befriended too closely.
An eerie silence fell over the room, broken only by the soft hum of the laptop fan and the low strains of game background music.
Feng Xiaolu's expression went from shock to realization, then to a hint of annoyance at being fooled, and finally all of it turned into a raging fire of gossip.
She paced around the room with her hands on her hips. "So, while both sets of parents are enthusiastically trying to bring us together, the two of us involved are either figuring out how to run away or how to explain ourselves to our families? What kind of mess is this?!"
Chen Anran recovered from his initial shock, rubbed his temples, and felt that things had taken a turn for the better than expected. He looked at Qi Lan and asked for confirmation, "Fellow Daoist Qi, is this true? Is the source reliable?"