Chapter 548 - 456: Junior Brother Is Not a Fool (2)

"Junior Brother, you’re really good."

"Silly girl, I’m your junior brother and your future husband. We’re one and the same, as husband and wife. If I don’t stand by you, then who would I stand by?" Lin Miao gently tapped Sun Youwei’s delicate nose, speaking affectionately.

"I’m not a silly girl!" Sun Youwei denied with pursed lips.

"Right, Senior Sister isn’t a silly girl; Junior Brother is the little silly one." Lin Miao laughed softly.

"Junior Brother isn’t a silly one either." Sun Youwei proactively wrapped her arms around Lin Miao’s waist, speaking affectionately and tenderly.

...

"Atang, Mrs Wan is leaving. Will you go with me or stay here?" Luu Wan knew that after revealing her identity and purpose, there were only two outcomes: stay or leave.

However, she didn’t expect Sun Youwei’s resentment and misunderstanding toward her Senior Sister to be so deep, and she was determined to drive her away without any leeway.

If she hadn’t used a "kitchen transition" as a stalling tactic, she might have already packed up and left by now.

Sun Youwei’s intelligence and determination were very similar to her mother’s, her Senior Sister Hua Qingye’s.

No wonder they are mother and daughter.

They dare to love and hate, their feelings are clear. This Senior Sister has not succumbed to her master even now, a quality Luu Wan genuinely admires.

"Leaving, Mrs Wan, why?" Qingtang asked, puzzled.

"Atang, do you know who Youwei’s mother is?" Situ Wan asked.

"How would I know that?"

"Her mother is our former Senior Sister of Merak Peak in the Way-seeking Sect, Hua Qingye," Situ Wan said. "Now she’s an elder at Merak Peak, but not many remember her since she’s been confined at Siguoya for almost twenty years."

"Siguoya, isn’t that where the sect punishes those who commit grave mistakes and a forbidden zone of the sect?" Qingtang was taken aback.

"Yes, usually, each peak handles its own punishments, at most a confinement or suspension of resources. Being sent to Siguoya is a decision made by a meeting of the nine peak leaders, and it’s for serious offenses only," Situ Wan nodded.

"Then what mistake did this Elder Hua commit to be banished to Siguoya?" Qingtang asked curiously.

"Running away from an arranged marriage, marrying in secret, and even giving birth to a daughter?"

"That’s not even a serious crime. If you don’t love someone, why should you marry them?"

"The marriage of a disciple from a major sect isn’t something one can control personally. Senior Sister Hua’s betrothed was a descendant of the Supreme Elder from Dubhe Peak, also the senior brother of Dubhe Peak. How could someone allow their fiancée to escape and have a child with another man?" Situ Wan sighed.

Qingtang asked, "If she didn’t want to marry, why did she agree initially?"

"Senior Sister Hua never agreed. It was her master, Mr. Bai, who agreed to the marriage, and Senior Sister Hua always opposed it."

"Then it shouldn’t be Elder Hua’s fault; why was she eventually locked in Siguoya?"

"Ah, right and wrong aren’t always clear. Mr. Bai, as Senior Sister Hua’s master, had the authority to decide her marriage. Senior Sister Hua didn’t like Mr. Gu, but instead chose an ordinary physician, which was unacceptable and made the Way-seeking Sect a laughingstock. Is that not rebellious and unfilial?" Situ Wan explained.

"They decide others’ marriages for their benefit and force couples and mother-daughter pairs to separate to save face. It’s truly nauseating!" Qingtang criticized bluntly.

"You, girl, how can you speak so recklessly?" Despite reprimanding Qingtang, Situ Wan had to admit her words contained some truth.

"Anyway, if I must marry someone I don’t love, I’d never consent, nor would I compromise. Elder Hua did the right thing, but it’s so pitiful."

"Senior Sister Hua endured Siguoya’s punishment to ensure the safety of Sun Simiao and Sun Youwei; otherwise, Mr. Bai and the Gu Family would never allow them to live."

"What? Is this the offspring of a righteous and renowned sect?"

"To the Gu Family, anything against their plans is considered rebellious and deserving of death. Sun Simiao and Sun Youwei’s existence is a humiliating Chapter for them. Although twenty years have passed, it’s uncertain if the Gu Family will ever let it go."

"So, Mrs. Wan, what’s your purpose in hiding your identity and staying close to Sun Youwei?" Qingtang pinpointed the key question.

"To protect Sun Youwei and bring her into the Way-seeking Sect," Situ Wan replied.

"Why take her into the Way-seeking Sect?"

"Once she’s in the Way-seeking Sect and becomes a true disciple, the Gu Family won’t dare harm her. The sect forbids internal conflict, as Senior Sister Hua advised."

"Isn’t Elder Hua afraid the same thing that happened to her will happen again to her daughter?" Qingtang asked a penetrating question.

Indeed, after going through it once, why not learn from the experience?

If Sun Youwei enters the Way-seeking Sect, with her beauty, she’ll likely face arranged marriages as well.

Wouldn’t this be aiding and abetting?

Perhaps Hua Qingye has her own considerations.

"The Gu Family will find this place eventually. I need to warn her," Situ Wan said. "However, our little boss has deep ties with the Snow Mountain Sect. If they help, it may deter the Gu Family from acting recklessly."

"Mrs. Wan, if you’re leaving, there’s no point for me to stay. I’ll leave with you," Qingtang said.

"If you come with me, what about your father?"

"My father has Lanya to care for him. Without me around, he might even feel more at ease," Qingtang replied.

"Alright, since you’re willing to come with me, pack your things, and let’s return to the Way-seeking Sect," Situ Wan decided after a moment and stroked Qingtang’s head.

"Thank you, Mrs. Wan. I’ll go prepare now," Qingtang replied joyfully.

"Ah, leaving so soon, I really feel a bit reluctant..." Situ Wan glanced around her room, which she had lived in for over a year, everything arranged by her own hand.

From decorations to furniture, all purchased to her liking.

This past year, she lived peacefully and learned many things, such as various cooking methods, maximizing what others in the Way-seeking Sect saw as "unorthodox" skills.

If it weren’t for the original task, she wouldn’t have chosen to reveal her identity.

This life was quite good.

In the end, she was somewhat unwilling to see Sun Youwei and Lin Miao get married.

With Sun Youwei’s remarkable talent, she was ideally suited for the Merak Peak’s Shadow-Bearing Heart Technique in the Way-seeking Sect, likely inheriting this martial aptitude from Senior Sister Hua.

Only by joining the Way-seeking Sect could Sun Youwei have a brighter future.

Settling in Dongshan as the wife of a mere physician, even if Lin Miao seemed a genius to many, he was far from a true prodigy.

If not for Mr. Sun’s arranged marriage from childhood, how else could Lin Miao marry a girl like Sun Youwei?

Sun Youwei’s intuition wasn’t wrong; the Way-seeking Sect had interests at its core.

If she were still that sickly girl, would the Way-seeking Sect recognize her?

Not at all; for twenty years, they lived in Qingping Town, neither hiding nor fleeing, simple to locate and acknowledge if desired.

Now that she’s healthy and valuable, they remember her.

Do they still think she’s that naïve girl ignorant of worldly matters?

The Way-seeking Sect maintains an air of superiority at its root.

Upon learning Luu Wan’s true identity, Lin Miao resolved to speak with her directly.

Having a true disciple from the Way-seeking Sect hide beside him for over a year without any suspicion, this skill in concealment was truly extraordinary.

How did she manage to evade his detection?

Suppressing her power, leaving him unaware, and her mastery of disguise; truly, these top-tier sects have remarkable abilities.

If he didn’t uncover it, he would feel humiliated for being kept in the dark so long.