Chapter 1353: Ren Mengzhen - Clouds Break, Dream Warms_2
Shi Xiaole continually refreshed the understanding of the Martial World, as well as her own.
Each encounter, he would surprise people greatly, as if he had no limits. Breaking through realms was as simple as eating and drinking for him, and even the most difficult martial arts would become effortless in his hands.
Her mother had once said that some people are born martial arts geniuses, but not all of them can achieve great things, yet Ren Mengzhen was certain that Shi Xiaole’s future would surpass everyone’s imagination.
Because not only did he have talent, he always hid an ace up his sleeve. No one knew where his bottom line was, let alone how much of his ability he had used each time he set a new record.
Such a low-profile and steadfast person, as long as one’s luck wasn’t too terrible, would always live a long life.
Later, she unexpectedly formed a connection with him through the Blood Sun mediation, and her talent began to significantly improve, far surpassing her arch-rival Ji Morou.
But Ren Mengzhen was very anxious.
Because at some point, she found that her attitude towards Shi Xiaole had subtly changed. From the initial indifference, to curiosity, to admiration, and to intimacy after the formation of the Blood Sun mediation.
After pondering for several days, she decided to confront Shi Xiaole. She didn’t want to be a woman pining in unrequited love; if she liked, she wanted to possess.
Infuriatingly, that guy ended up with another woman!
A woman named Xia Yunxi, who was inferior to herself in looks, figure, temperament, everything, and yet she was the lover publicly acknowledged by Shi Xiaole.
Because of this, she followed Shi Xiaole’s tracks for a long time without success, only to return to her sect to immerse herself in martial arts to forget everything.
Later, emerging from seclusion, her spies told her Xia Yunxi had left Nine Profound Mountain. What a great opportunity, I want to see, how exactly did you move a man with the surname Shi.
Ren Mengzhen transformed herself into a strange woman of the Martial World, Zhen Meng, and with her ability to charm and dance with long sleeves, along with a series of unexpected turns of events, she easily gained Xia Yunxi’s trust and became good sisters with her, eventually infiltrating Nine Profound Mountain.
Such a naive and foolish woman, but she was foolishly adorable.
Ren Mengzhen couldn’t help but suspect that perhaps it was Xia Yunxi’s passionate and kind, clear and bright personality that had attracted Shi Xiaole.
A person who was always on guard against the world tended to pay extra attention to someone who was unguarded.
Hmph!
Ren Mengzhen had almost given up because she didn’t want to infuriate Shi Xiaole, but this damn hypocrite was playing around, treating the world’s number one beauty as his forbidden delicacy, hiding a mistress in the golden house.
Utterly outrageous!
She couldn’t help but provoke Xia Yunxi, never anticipating that this impulse would cost her the greatest price of her life.
After that night, she became pregnant.
Her mother was so angry that she wanted to go to Nine Profound Mountain for justice but was stopped by Ren Mengzhen, who could she blame but herself? Besides, she didn’t want to be accepted out of pity; that would only make her and her child suffer more.
"Wah..."
A few months later, accompanied by a high-pitched cry, the child was born, a very handsome boy.
Ren Mengzhen looked at the child’s features, her pale face radiant with maternal love, and sweetly smiled, "Child, although you don’t have a father, mother will give you all her love and let you grow up happy and healthy."
She thought from then on she could live a peaceful life, yet before long, the second great battle between heaven and earth suddenly erupted.
Her mother and many masters of the Dreamy Sect went to the pit in the South Sea to fight. Clutching her child, Ren Mengzhen saw them off with tears blurring her vision.
She didn’t know if this departure was forever; at that moment, she even wanted to accompany her mother. The little one in her arms, still not understanding, laughed heartily, reaching out and gaping as if wondering where grandma had gone.
"Mengzhen, a child without a father can’t be without a mother. He has finally come into this world; don’t let him be all alone," her mother’s words echoed in her ears, and Ren Mengzhen hugged her son tightly, her tears unstoppable.
Days passed in endless worry, and just as Ren Mengzhen was full of anxiety, she learned that the war had ended. It was him again, who almost single-handedly killed the strongest from beyond the heavens and quelled the hostilities.
Later, when her mother and her kind master returned, she learned that even her mother’s life was saved by him, and he had also learned about the child. Would he make a statement, or act as if he knew nothing?
Ren Xiaoyao grew day by day, and although she didn’t speak of it, Ren Mengzhen’s heart harbored a silent resentment towards his unfeelingness.
Until one day, when she discovered by chance, that Xiaoyao, while playing, demonstrated a extremely sophisticated technique of saber art, and his progress was much faster than she could have ever imagined.
That night, she, her mother Ren Xiaoxiao, her mentor Ci Xin Yao, and Ji Morou gathered around a table, setting up an inquisition for the mischievous son.
The son wasn’t scared until she deliberately shed tears, feigning a heartbroken demeanor. Only then did he become frightened and, after stammering for a moment, he finally spoke of being taken as a disciple by a mysterious person three years ago, who forbade him from telling anyone.
"What’s his name?"
Ji Morou asked.
"He said everyone calls him the Grand Master."
Seeing the drastic change in Ren Mengzhen’s expression, Ren Xiaoyao paused for a moment before saying, "Mother, I’ve always had a question I wanted to ask you, who exactly is my father? There are no unexplained benefits in this world, that Grand Master, he bears a striking resemblance to me..."
Ren Xiaoyao was very clever, inheriting his mother’s keen observation and shrewdness, he had long harbored suspicions in his heart.
Ren Mengzhen’s delicate body trembled violently, and that time, she didn’t speak for a long time, lying on her lonely pillow unable to sleep deep into the night, her tears soaking the quilt.
Many, many years passed just like that.
Her son had become the renowned Carefree Supreme Lord, known throughout the Martial World. His mother, his kind mentor, and Ji Morou had all been sent by him to the Nine Heavens Mountain.
She had grown old, coming to the end of her life.
Before dying, she didn’t tell her son, secretly leaving Carefree Valley because she didn’t want to be saved by that man. Since you care not to inquire, let it be. We shall not meet again in this life.
Ren Mengzhen walked a long, long way, not knowing why, she always felt someone following her, but every time she looked back, she saw only the lonely path beneath her feet, flanked by deep shadows of trees.
She laughed mockingly at herself, and when she felt she could walk no more, Ren Mengzhen leaned against a large tree, tilting her head up to gaze at the sun beyond the dappled forest.
Over the years, had her life been much like this moment, wishing to bask in the sunlight, yet always blocked by the branches and leaves, wanting to step out, but her own pride holding her back?
"Are you tired?"
Someone asked softly by her ear.
Ren Mengzhen’s heart fluttered and she turned abruptly, seeing a handsome face she thought she had long forgotten, but now it seemed vivid as if reflecting from the depths of her heart.
He was the sun for everyone in the East Victory world, but not her own sun.
Tears blurred her view of the world.
"You’re still so stubborn. From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were a woman who wouldn’t bow to anyone. Such people usually find it hard to be happy."
A sigh escaped him, and he too leaned against the tree, his shoulder touching hers.
Ren Mengzhen shifted away forcefully, angrily retorted, "Whether I’m happy or not is none of your concern!"
He chuckled, then continued, "All these years, every time you come here for shade, have you never thought of going elsewhere? Perhaps, you might discover a different mood."
Ren Mengzhen cried even harder, scoffing coldly, "Where else could I go? Isn’t it best for a woman undeserving of happiness like me to stay here? After all, when I die, no one needs to know."
"I’ve thought about it many times, our situation, it’s complicated, and I don’t know how to face you. But I know that any pitying love would only be an insult to your pride and strength."
Ren Mengzhen’s shoulders shook; she bit her teeth, not crying out loud, and it took a long time before she could manage to speak weakly: "Then what’s the purpose of your visit today?"
"Let bygones be bygones. Ren Mengzhen, in the next life, let’s try to start over, okay? Not for anyone else."
"Will there be a next life?"
"There will be. I always keep my word."
Shi Xiaole paused a moment, then suddenly said, "Actually, on the boat that night, you were really beautiful. I almost fell for you!"
Ren Mengzhen looked up at the sky again.
Perhaps because she had moved, the foliage was much thinner, and patches of sunlight fell upon her, making her feel warm, the kind of warmth she had longed for.
In the end, she was embraced by him, closing her eyes, her heart filled with peace.
