Chapter 182: Hello Chang’an
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**Chapter 182: Reunion (Supplementary Update)**
Chang Sui'an shook his head. “We still don’t know which family the girl belongs to. All we know is that she was with the others picking chrysanthemums at the back mountain yesterday, and she seems to have disappeared there… The monks and the imperial guards searched all night, but still haven’t found her.”
Chang Suining understood the situation. The phrase “still don’t know which family” likely meant that the girl’s family had intentionally concealed her identity.
The women traveling with her were all from noble or influential families. The girl had been missing for a day and night now, and if the news spread widely, even if they found her, it would bring trouble and unwanted attention. To protect the family’s reputation and avoid public scrutiny, they had likely kept her identity a secret.
Among the group of women, some may have suspected who was missing, but men like her brother wouldn’t have the means to figure it out.
“We, along with Sixth Master Cui, intended to help search for her, but the imperial guards insisted it wasn’t necessary and didn’t let us get close. Now, the back mountain has been surrounded,” Chang Sui'an continued.
Cui Lang had said it was because they didn’t want unrelated individuals getting involved.
Chang Suining nodded. “With the imperial guards involved, there should be enough manpower for the search…”
The imperial guards’ actions must have been coordinated with the girl’s family or authorized by the emperor. The reasons were clear: first, to avoid revealing the identity of the missing girl; second, if the worst happened, it would help preserve the integrity of the scene and minimize any disturbance.
With these thoughts in mind, Chang Suining instinctively said, “No matter whose daughter she is, I hope she can be found safely.”
Chang Sui'an nodded.
The abbot’s room was now just ahead, and the siblings decided to put the matter aside for the time being.
As they stepped into the room, Chang Suining made a conscious effort to appear natural, to avoid drawing attention to herself.
Master Wu Jue appeared unchanged, and upon seeing the siblings, he smiled and urged his disciples to set up the meal.
“You must have been bored in the tower these past three days. The meal must be cold by now…” Master Wu Jue said as he personally served vegetables into Chang Suining’s bowl. “Come, eat something warm to refresh yourself.”
Chang Suining looked at the vegetables he had placed into her bowl, and her gaze shifted to the table. In that moment, she felt as though she had been transported back to many years ago.
Chang Sui'an also noticed something odd. “The food today seems different from usual.”
“Of course it’s different,” Master Wu Jue laughed. “I made it myself today.”
Chang Sui'an was surprised. “You’re skilled in cooking?”
“Didn’t your father ever tell you? When I used to accompany His Highness on military campaigns, I often cooked. I personally made lamb soup noodles that were so fragrant—your father could eat five whole bowls in one sitting. He’d almost start gnawing on the pot!”
“He still often asks me to make him a bowl, but that’s no longer possible now. I’ve become a monk.”
Master Wu Jue smiled like a Maitreya Buddha as he watched Chang Suining quietly eating her vegetables. “I can’t cook meat anymore, but I’ve made some vegetarian dishes for you to try. It’s been a while since I’ve cooked, so I’m not sure if my skills are still intact.”
Chang Suining chewed slowly.
The taste was still there.
It was just like before, unchanged.
It was as if after finishing this meal, she would rise, don her armor, and join Old Chang and the others to march out and fight.
Chang Sui'an tasted a few bites and nodded repeatedly, clearly impressed. “It’s really good! No wonder Father was always so greedy for it!”
Master Wu Jue paused halfway through his meal, setting down his chopsticks with a smile. “Sui An, you stay and eat slowly. I’ll take Xiao Suining to the inner room to discuss the teachings of Buddhism. If anyone comes knocking, just tell them we haven’t finished eating and ask them to wait outside.”
Chang Sui'an was momentarily stunned. What could Master Wu Jue want to discuss with his sister alone?
The way he phrased it also made it sound more like he wanted him to stay behind as a lookout while they went inside.
The young man glanced at his sister, who also set her bowl down. He nodded reluctantly.
Though he didn’t understand the situation, one was his sister and the other was Master Wu Jue, who had watched him grow up, so he trusted their judgment and stayed behind to continue eating.
Chang Suining followed Master Wu Jue into the inner room.
“What does Father want to discuss with me?” she asked.
“Don’t rush. We’ll talk inside…” Master Wu Jue said as he gestured towards the back.
Chang Suining followed his gesture, but… was that under the bed?
The space seemed a bit too deep.
Master Wu Jue motioned for her to go in first.
“Since you’re the elder, please go ahead,” Chang Suining said, deferring to him.
“What, afraid there’s some trap waiting for you?” Master Wu Jue scoffed, his voice tinged with discontent. “Do you really not trust me this much?”
With that, he confidently walked toward the bed, bent down, and crawled underneath.
A moment later, a muffled voice came from beneath the bed. “See? I’m not dead.”
“….” Chang Suining followed him inside.
She followed Master Wu Jue through a hidden passageway to a secret chamber.
Just like last time with Cui Jing, Chang Suining’s gaze was immediately drawn to the wine jars.
Master Wu Jue walked to the stone wall and lit a lamp.
As the lamp flickered to life, he stood in place, facing away from Chang Suining.
The surrounding atmosphere was eerily quiet.
After a long moment, it was Chang Suining who finally spoke up. "Where’s the Buddhist teachings?"
Master Wu Jue didn’t respond.
Another moment of silence passed before the round figure finally spoke. His voice was low, a bit hoarse, tinged with a sigh, a hint of complaint, and a certain tenderness as if caring for a younger one.
“You’ve come back… and you didn’t say anything?”
When there was no reply, Master Wu Jue slowly turned around, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice rising slightly as he asked again, “You’ve returned… and you didn’t even inform me?”
Chang Suining looked at him, confused. “...What do you mean by ‘returned’?”
Master Wu Jue glared at her. “You still won’t admit it!”
Chang Suining was even more bewildered. “Admit what...?”
Master Wu Jue’s nose seemed to twitch, and with a “thud,” he sat down, slapped his leg, and began crying. “How cruel you are! Even now, you won’t acknowledge me!”
Chang Suining: “...”
“You rulers... are all this heartless, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been waiting for you day and night... At my age, how many more days do I have left?”
“You refused to take the ring I gave you, and now you still pretend not to recognize me... Could I possibly harm you?”
Master Wu Jue sobbed, his words pouring out as if years of repressed emotions were finally being released.
Chang Suining felt a headache coming on.
He must have calculated that she was most afraid of those around her crying in front of her.
Master Wu Jue’s crying wasn’t enough; he even rolled up his monk robe sleeves and continued to cry even more pitifully. “Look at these poison sores on my arms, how could I ever harm you?”
Poison sores?
Chang Suining looked over and saw his arms covered in dense scars, each one an obvious mark. The sight was shocking.
Where did these come from?
Master Wu Jue wiped his nose and continued crying. “I’ve become a monk, and all these poison sores are for you! You might not believe Old Chang or Old Meng, but you can’t deny me!”
For her?
Master Wu Jue continued to cry, “If you still have a shred of conscience, please acknowledge me!”
Chang Suining: “I don’t quite understand what you’re saying…”
Master Wu Jue was insistent, “You understand!”
He continued, “Only someone like you would have such a stubborn mouth!”
Chang Suining: “...I’m not.”
Master Wu Jue: “You are!”
Before Chang Suining could deny it again, he stared at her with tear-filled eyes and spoke first, “Whoever lies is a donkey!”
He added, “Whoever doesn’t admit it will be bald tomorrow!”
Chang Suining: “...”
There really was no need for threats to be so elaborate!
Master Wu Jue fixed his gaze on her. “So, tell me, are you or are you not?”
“...” Chang Suining sighed helplessly, looking into his eyes.
They stared at each other for a moment, and Chang Suining finally exhaled a sigh.
Wu Jue was clearly already completely certain, and her denial was meaningless.
Chang Suining, who had no desire to return to being that unlucky person, was somewhat frustrated. She raised her head to look at the sky, only to find the dirt wall in front of her.
"Fine, it's me," she said.
In the next moment, she felt Wu Jue throw himself at her, kneeling at her feet and bursting into loud tears.
“You finally admitted it!”
“These poison sores I got back then were so round, I knew from the start that they’d lead to something big… It turns out they weren’t in vain!”
Chang Suining looked down at the abbot lying at her feet and crying loudly. After a long moment, she squatted down and gently patted his back. "Alright, you're a revered monk now. What’s this crying all about?"
Wu Jue wiped his tears. "It’s because you made me so angry..."
"You’re the one who’s making things difficult," Chang Suining said, leaning back casually. "I should be the one crying."
Wu Jue, feeling wronged, said, "I only wanted to acknowledge you. I wasn’t trying to force you to do anything..."
Since she had already admitted it, Chang Suining didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she asked him, “But how were you so sure it was me?”
Was she that easy to recognize?
Someone who had been dead for over ten years suddenly came back to life in another person’s body—such an unbelievable thing, if told, no one would believe it.
What made Wu Jue so certain? — Was it the secret of the Heavenly Woman Tower?
Before Cui Jing left, he had hinted that Wu Jue had the answers she needed.
Wu Jue, still sniffling, said, "All things in the world have cause and effect. Although you changed your appearance and identity, you’re still you... It was fate that made me recognize you."
Chang Suining raised an eyebrow. “...Can you say something people can understand?”
Wu Jue’s sobs stopped for a moment, then he said, “It was General Cui who told me.”
“Cui Jing?” Chang Suining asked.
“Yes,” Wu Jue nodded. “It was General Cui who first recognized you... I set up a forbidden formation in the Heavenly Maiden Tower, and he was the key to that formation. He is a perceptive person, and when he observed your actions without intention, he started to suspect.”
“What really confirmed his suspicion was the unusual way you saved yourself when you were in a difficult situation in Hezhou,” Wu Jue asked. “That’s when you truly returned, right?”
Chang Suining nodded slightly.
Wu Jue said, “Even back then, the formation in the tower had already pointed the way... But at the time, no one expected that you had already returned.”
Chang Suining looked at him. “So, the formation in the Tower...”
Wu Jue: “It was set up to bring you back to life.”
Back to life?
Though she had suspected this possibility in the past few days, hearing it spoken aloud still caused a stir in Chang Suining’s heart.
It turned out that her "resurrection" wasn’t a coincidence, but something that had been orchestrated.
Now, she had two questions that needed to be verified, that she had to face.
The first one she asked was the one that mattered most to her.
Goodnight, everyone.
(End of chapter)
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