CHAPTER 272: CHAPTER 272: OLD MEMORIES

"Elder, do you remember if, apart from Xiao Wu, there was anyone else during that fire?" Duan Yunfei asked.

Mu Jian fell into contemplation, and after a while, he said, "It seems there was a woman. That woman, it is said, was Xiao Wu’s wife. According to the forensic doctor at the time, she was not burned to death but had her throat slit and was thrown into the fire afterward."

"Then, elder, do you know if they had a child with them?" Duan Yunfei asked again.

"Yes!" Mu Jian nodded. "I still remember, back then, after the manor owner of Yongning buried Xiao Wu and his wife, he sent people to look for a child. However, it seems the child was hidden by someone, and even with the help of many sects, they couldn’t find the child."

"Couldn’t find him?" Duan Yunfei smiled bitterly.

Father probably never expected that the child he searched for so long was actually beside him all along and even harbored the intent to kill him from time to time?

"I also heard an interesting story at that time," Mu Jian said. "It is said that the woman is now the wife of the manor owner of Haoyue Manor."

"Ah?" Lan Ruo exclaimed. "Could Xiao Wu have been killed by Chen Qi? After all, the enmity of stealing someone’s wife is irreconcilable!"

Mu Jian nodded, "We cannot rule out that possibility."

Lan Ruo asked curiously, "Grandfather, I heard that Xiao Wu was exceptionally good-looking. Is that true?"

Everyone, upon hearing this, looked towards Mu Jian.

"Someone once saw Xiao Wu playing the flute under the moon and mistook him for a celestial being descended to earth." Song Ting said. "From this, it seems Xiao Wu must have been extremely handsome."

Mu Jian sighed lightly, "Few people know, in fact, Xiao Wu is not his real name."

"Xiao Wu isn’t his real name?" Song Ting frowned. "Then what is Xiao Wu’s real name?"

Mu Jian glanced at Duan Yunfei and then said, "Xiao Wu’s surname is actually Zhu, and his name is Changle. Xiao Wu is said to be a name given to him by the manor owner."

"My father named him?" Duan Yunfei’s expression was indescribable for a moment.

"Yes." Mu Jian said, "Your grandmother and Xiao Wu’s mother were close friends in their maidenhood and later married into the Duan and Zhu families."

"But unfortunately, the Zhu family was later killed by enemies, leaving only Zhu Changle. To protect her friend’s only bloodline, your grandmother brought Zhu Changle to Yongning Manor to accompany the young manor owner at the time."

Duan Yunfei frowned. He really had never heard anyone mention this before!

"Besides your father and mother, Xuan Hua should also be aware of this," Mu Jian said. "Of course, there is also your master."

"My master?" Duan Yunfei’s frowning sword-like brows deepened a bit more.

Mu Jian stroked his beard and smiled, "Your master, Chu Wuqu, was your grandfather’s close friend when he was alive. Otherwise, do you think a man like Chu Wuqu, who usually lives in seclusion, would suddenly appear in the world and take you and your brother-in-law as disciples?"

Past grievances and grudges, Duan Yunfei had never heard his parents mention, nor had Xuan Hua ever brought them up.

He only knew that his father had a great relationship with Xiao Wu, and even after so many years, whenever Xiao Wu was mentioned, his father would always be deeply saddened.

It turns out, there was such a story between Xiao Wu and the Duan family!

Duan Yunfei cupped his hands towards Mu Jian and said, "Thank you, elder, for telling me all this. I will definitely return to the manor to inquire clearly about this!"

He thought: If I cannot ask my father, perhaps I could ask Uncle Xuan?

"Does the Young Master wish to return to the manor now?" Xuan Ming asked.

Duan Yunfei nodded. He looked at Xuan Ming and said, "Xuan Ming, you understand medicine. Stay here to look after Qian San. If he wakes up, you must inform me immediately."

"Yes!"

Xuan Ming nodded.