A Devastating Blow, a Brother and Sister Struggling to Go On

"Young Master Zhang was no ordinary person!"

"Indeed! While we were visiting Blue Silver Village these past few days, I could see how deeply the villagers respected Brother Zhang Sheng. Some of them even worshipped him."

"That was only one thing. Sister, didn't you notice that the people of Blue Silver Village were a little different from those elsewhere?"

"Were they?"

"Think again!"

"Oh! I know! Their spirits were different. They seemed more lively, as though one had a soul and the other didn't."

"Mm! You should know that even in those great cities, such a sight was hard to come by, yet here it was. So I'm certain Young Master Zhang must have a great talent for governing a country.

"And he was unexpectedly young, only about three years older than you, Sister. I really don't know who could have taught such an outstanding disciple."

"Brother Zhang Sheng really was exceptionally talented, especially since he invented so many delicious foods and selflessly taught everyone how to make them. It was truly admirable!"

Zhangsun Wuji couldn't help being a little surprised to see how highly his sister thought of Zhang Sheng.

There were countless outstanding young men in Luoyang City, but he had never seen his sister praise any of them.

Yet after spending only a few days with Zhang Sheng, she was full of praise for him.

"I never thought our eldest Miss Zhangsun would think so highly of someone. That's something!"

"That's not true! Brother, you're making fun of me again!"

Zhangsun Wugou thought her brother had discovered her little secret and immediately denied it, though a blush spread across her cheeks.

"All right, all right! If you say so. Don't be angry!"

Seeing his sister's face turn red, Zhangsun Wuji thought she was angry and begged her to forgive him.

And so the brother and sister made their way toward Luoyang City, teasing and bantering as they went.

But what they didn't know was that a piece of earth-shattering, terrible news concerning them awaited them in Luoyang City!

Several days passed, and Zhangsun Wuji finally returned to Luoyang City with his sister.

Though they were a little tired, their spirits were still high. As they watched the people of Luoyang pass by their carriage,

they couldn't help comparing them with the people of Blue Silver Village, and there was indeed a certain difference.

As they took in everything in Luoyang City, a sudden conversation caught the siblings' attention.

"Have you heard? General Zhangsun died on the battlefield!"

"Is that true?"

"Of course it is! The Zhangsun residence is already covered in white mourning cloth!"

"Stop the carriage!"

Bang!

"What did you just say?"

Zhangsun Wuji rushed out of the carriage, seized the man by the collar, and demanded angrily:

"Who are you? What are you doing?"

"I'm asking you, is what you just said about General Zhangsun dying in battle true? Do you know what crime it is to spread rumors about an imperial official?"

"I... it's true! I saw it with my own eyes. The news has spread through half of Luoyang City by now."

"How could this happen? No! My father couldn't have died in battle. I have to go home and see for myself."

The sudden news left Zhangsun Wuji at a loss. His face was no longer as relaxed and cheerful as before; instead, it was deathly pale.

"Quick, let's go! Hurry!"

While Zhangsun Wuji was distracted, the passerby he had stopped took the chance to slip away.

"Brother!"

Zhangsun Wugou's call brought Zhangsun Wuji back to reality. He turned his head with difficulty

and looked at his still-young sister, at a loss for what to say.

But no matter how heartbroken he was, he had to pull himself together. He was his sister's only support now.

"Wugou! Father... he died on the battlefield!"

"What? Brother! What did you say? How could Father have died in battle? You're lying to me, aren't you? Brother! Say something! You..."

"Little sister! Wugou! What's wrong? Wake up! Quick! Back to the residence! Find a doctor!"

This whole series of events threw Zhangsun Wuji into a panic. Now that his father was gone, he couldn't let anything happen to his sister too.

The carriage raced through the streets of Luoyang City toward the Zhangsun residence, throwing people and horses into disarray along the way, but they couldn't spare a thought for that now.

When Zhangsun Wuji and the others reached the entrance to the residence, the white mourning cloth everywhere extinguished his last hope.

Zhangsun Wuji helped Zhangsun Wugou, who had just woken from her faint, down from the carriage.

Just then, a man came out of the house. As soon as he saw Zhangsun Wuji, he began to mock him.

"Well, well! If it isn't our Eldest Young Master Zhangsun Wuji! Back from your trip?

"You're truly a filial son! You weren't even home when your own father was carried back. Tsk, tsk!"

"Zhangsun Anye! That's enough!"

"Is that any way to speak to your eldest brother? Have you no respect for your elders?

"Now that Father is dead, I'll be in charge of the Zhangsun family from now on. An eldest brother is like a father, you know?"

"You..."

"Don't like it? You'll just have to put up with it! Hmph!"

Zhangsun Wuji's face flushed red with anger at his elder half-brother, but there was nothing he could do about him.

"Brother, forget it! You know he's never liked us. Why get angry with him? Father's affairs are what matter now!"

Hearing his sister say this, Zhangsun Wuji suppressed the anger in his heart and entered the residence with a sorrowful look on his face.

Leaving aside the grief that now shrouded the Zhangsun family, Zhang Sheng, meanwhile, had begun to feel somewhat restless and uneasy after Zhangsun Wuji and his sister left.

He didn't know what was wrong with him.

That can't be very likely, can it? She isn't even ten yet. Wouldn't that make me a bit too much of a beast? Though people in this era married relatively early,

they didn't marry that early. No! I must have lost my mind!

"Master! What are you doing? One moment you're shaking your head, and the next you look annoyed."

"Uh! Lan Xin! It's you! You startled me!"

"Hee-hee! Master, I didn't mean to startle you. You were just too absorbed in your thoughts."

"Ahem!"

Lan Xin's words made Zhang Sheng feel a little guilty, so he pretended to cough twice to hide his embarrassment.

"Did you need something?"

"No! I just saw that you've been a little listless these past two days, Master, so I came to see if there was anything I could help with."

"Have I?"

"Mm!"

Lan Xin nodded her little head firmly.

"Ever since Miss Zhangsun and her brother left, you've been acting listless, Master. Could it be that you..."

"No! I definitely don't have any thoughts about Sister Wugou! Uh! All right! I suppose I do miss her a little!"

"Pfft! Master, you're just too cute!"

"You little brat! You're still laughing! Have you no respect for your elders? Looks like you need a dose of family discipline."

"Have mercy, Master! I'll stop laughing!"

After all that fooling around, Zhang Sheng's mood instantly improved a great deal.

Even his cultivation rose a little. Perhaps it was because his state of mind had undergone a transformation!

Zhang Sheng's cultivation had now broken through to Soul Elder, and his Soul Power had reached level 32, which counted as a modest achievement.

After all, he hadn't managed even that in his previous life. Perhaps this was bitterness giving way to sweetness.