"Because I want to." An Jiu answered succinctly.
Mei Zhengjing said, "It's easier to enjoy shade under a big tree. The Mei Clan hasn't fallen yet. Are you sure you won't regret leaving in such a hurry?"
Without hesitation, An Jiu replied, "I won't."
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Relying on a clan meant abiding by its rules and contributing to it. An Jiu could survive on her own—why should she shoulder the burden of clan responsibilities? She wanted nothing to do with the Mei Clan.
"Fine." Mei Zhengjing could discern the truth in her words.
He had been groomed as the next head of the Mei Clan and thus knew the secrets of the Loyalty and Righteousness Tower—something even Mei Tingzhu and the others were unaware of. Mei Shisi had only recently returned to Plum Blossom Village, and if not for the late clan leader's dying request, she would never have learned of it either.
"Go fetch the Plum Fist manual," he said to Mei Tingzhu.
Mei Tingzhu glanced at An Jiu before rising and leaving. She understood that An Jiu didn’t want the burden of clan responsibilities, but she couldn’t fathom how that once-fragile woman could be so confident about surviving alone in the Crane Control Army. Had she become a peerless master in such a short time? Or had she found a better place to go…
The Plum Fist manual had always been kept in the study, not deliberately hidden. Firstly, External Cultivation was rare these days, and no External Cultivator could break into the Mei Clan. Secondly, the most dangerous place was also the safest.
The hall fell silent. Mei Tingyuan's eyes reddened.
She had no particular affection for An Jiu, but she couldn’t bear to see the Mei Clan in such disarray. Though the Mei Clan was a shadow unit, often living in danger, it had always been a place of belonging—with the clan leader, elders, and relatives she had known since childhood.
"Elder Zhi was your master. Now that you're in the Crane Control Army, don’t you plan to pay him a visit?" Mei Zhengjing broke the silence.
An Jiu’s expression remained indifferent. Had he not mentioned it, she might have forgotten about the man entirely. Back then, her meridians had been destroyed—partly due to her own actions, but largely because of Elder Zhi’s stubbornness. It wasn’t hard to imagine that, given his obsession with Archery, he wouldn’t have cared about her consent. The outcome would have been the same, whether she cooperated or not.
In short, the strong preyed on the weak. An Jiu bore no resentment for her defeat, and her feelings toward that old man were the same as her feelings toward the incident—both were people and events of the past.
An Jiu said, "He destroyed my meridians. Teaching me a few things was his payment. After that, we had no further connection."
Mei Zhengjing’s expression shifted slightly, surprise flashing across his face for the first time. "Then earlier…"
How could someone with destroyed meridians move so soundlessly?
An Jiu cut him off. "The secret of the Loyalty and Righteousness Tower in exchange for the Plum Fist manual, and in exchange for severing all ties between me, my mother, and the Mei Clan. This deal isn’t a loss for you."
"Since I’ve agreed, I won’t go back on my word." Mei Zhengjing didn’t press further. "If you ever change your mind, the Mei Clan will welcome you back."
Always leaving room for reconciliation—this had been the way of the previous Mei Clan leader. Mei Zhengjing had once considered it indecisive, but now, after the Mei Clan had suffered heavy losses yet neither collapsed nor was kicked while down, he realized it was entirely due to the previous leader’s foresight.An Jiu was somewhat moved, like a lone boat drifting at sea suddenly finding a harbor to moor in, nearly making her unable to resist agreeing. However, she pressed her lips together slightly and did not respond, silently telling herself not to look back.
Mei Tingzhu entered carrying a box and placed it on the table beside An Jiu.
"Take a look," Mei Zhengjing said.
An Jiu opened the box and saw several tattered scrolls inside.
Mei Zhengjing explained, "To avoid damaging the original, the clan made three copies. This is one of them—you may take it with you."
An Jiu flipped through them and asked, "Is this the complete manual?"
"Perhaps yes, perhaps no." Mei Zhengjing did not conceal the truth. "I can promise you this: if it is incomplete, I will send any additional contents to you as soon as I discover them."
Having studied many External Cultivation martial arts manuals, An Jiu had some ability to discern their authenticity. She tucked the scrolls away and took out a piece of jade from her robes, placing it on the table.
The expressions of the three in the room darkened instantly—they all recognized it as the jade pendant the previous family head had worn at his waist. Especially Mei Tingzhu and Mei Tingyuan, who had seen it almost daily. To them, seeing the jade was like seeing their father.
"Farewell." An Jiu stood and walked out.
Her back was rigid, her guard up the entire time, wary that they might try to reclaim the Plum Fist Manual now that they had the jade. Yet no one followed her, even as she stepped beyond the main gate.
Inside the hall, Mei Tingyuan rushed forward and grabbed the jade, tears falling uncontrollably as suppressed sobs escaped her throat.
"Ah Yuan." Mei Tingzhu embraced her, closing her eyes as she gently patted her back.
Suddenly, Mei Tingyuan burst into loud, heart-wrenching sobs.
Mei Zhengjing turned his face away, gripping the armrest of his chair tightly.
Only after Mei Tingyuan had cried herself out did she think to ask, "Sixth Uncle, Mei Shisi couldn’t wait to sever ties with us. Why did you treat her so kindly?"
"She is no ordinary person." Mei Zhengjing gazed at the bright moonlight outside the door. "She infiltrated this place without a sound—none of us noticed. That is no small feat. As for the manual..."
He glanced at Mei Tingzhu, knowing his clever niece would understand without further explanation.
"I kept the final volume," Mei Tingzhu said.
Mei Zhengjing nodded. Presenting that last volume to An Jiu later would be an act of grace. Even if she wasn’t moved, it could at least secure one favor for the Mei family.
"Uncle, what lies within the tower? Can it help us rebuild the Mei family?" Mei Tingzhu asked.
Mei Zhengjing sighed. "Yes. Not only does it hold the vast wealth accumulated by the Mei family over centuries, but there is also a secret scroll documenting the forces the family has secretly cultivated."
Hearing this, Mei Tingyuan couldn’t help but exclaim, "Thank goodness Mei Shisi didn’t act selfishly!"
"Even if she had, she wouldn’t have been able to enter. I grew up traversing those secret passages, and even now, it takes me days to navigate them." Mei Zhengjing’s eyes softened with a faint smile as he recalled the past. "There was a time I disappeared for years. You all thought I was traveling, but in truth, I was trapped inside for years. There are dense forests, fruits, and wild game—food wasn’t an issue, but with bad luck, one could be trapped there forever."
"Eldest Brother also went on a journey once... Could he have gone there too...?" Mei Tingyuan thought of Mei Tingjun, her face paling as pain flashed in her eyes.In the temple, Mei Tingjun was struck by the Blue Light Crossbow while pushing her away, turning into a pool of mangled flesh and blood. This scene was something Mei Tingyuan would never forget in this lifetime. In the depths of midnight dreams, everything remained vivid, and even many forgotten details grew clearer with time.
Time blurred many things, yet made others grow ever more profound.
The moon's shadow sank westward.
An Jiu wandered the city streets. Just before dawn, He Cai came to inform her that the mission was complete.
She could rest for a few more days now—time to practice the Plum Fist, An Jiu mused inwardly.
"Sister?"
Just as An Jiu quickened her pace, a familiar voice called out from behind. (To be continued...)
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