Chapter 26: Mu Xiaoyun

Lu Yuance nodded: "That is exactly what I intended."

Yu Jinzhen slept until dusk. Just as she unzipped the tent in her room, she heard a strange child's voice from outside. She frowned and stayed inside for a moment, slowly putting on her coat while listening to figure out the intruder's purpose.

After hearing a few sentences, she realized who the girl was: Mu Xiaoyun, the ten-year-old daughter of Mu Gushui, from the second branch of the Mu family. But why was only Mu Sanyue in the cave? Where were the others? And how did a ten-year-old girl manage to climb up here? Even Mu Gushan and Mu Gushui could not easily ascend without the aid of ropes.

At that moment, seeing Mu Sanyue sitting motionless, Mu Xiaoyun assumed he was too young to understand her words and continued to coax him: "Sanyue, I’m telling you the truth. Whenever your family has something delicious, just hide some of it and find a chance to send it to our house. Then my whole family, including Grandpa and Grandma, will treat your father and mother well and never scold you again."

After all, Mu Sanyue was only five. Tempted by her words, his eyes lit up: "Are you telling the truth?"

Seeing that he believed half of what she said, Mu Xiaoyun’s expression became excited. Thinking about having delicious food every day, her voice trembled with anticipation: "Of... of course! Don't you remember? We used to play together all the time. When the other kids in the village bullied you, I even helped you."

Mu Sanyue furrowed his little brow, sounding very confused: "Did that really happen?"

*Of course not. I'm lying to you.*

Though she thought this to herself, Mu Xiaoyun looked very earnest on the surface: "Of course it did! You were very small then, only two or three years old. It’s normal that you don’t have any memory of it."

Mu Sanyue nodded skeptically.

Fully reassured, Mu Xiaoyun scanned the cave, suddenly struck by a bad premonition: "How come I don't see any of your family's food? Is there nothing good to eat today?"

Mu Sanyue shook his head: "I don't know. Maybe there is, maybe not. Big Sister keeps all the food in her room; she only brings it out when it's time to eat."

Mu Xiaoyun was filled with envy. She couldn't believe an adopted daughter held a higher status in this household than someone like her who shared blood ties with the third uncle. She deliberately tried to sow discord: "Your sister is truly sinister, hiding everything just because she's afraid you might sneak a bite."

"That's not true!" Mu Sanyue loved his Sister Zhenzhen the most and hated hearing anyone speak ill of her. His little face puffed up in anger: "Sister is just afraid that bad people will come to steal the food. It's safest right by her side!"

Seeing him angry, Mu Xiaoyun feared he would stop listening to her, so she quickly coaxed: "Alright, I know. I was just guessing. It seems I guessed wrong. I'm sorry, I apologize to you, okay?"

Mu Sanyue nodded, his face full of childish innocence: "I'll let it slide this time, but I won't forgive you next time."

Yu Jinzhen: "..." *My dear little brother, you actually want there to be a next time?*

Seeing that the issue was resolved, Mu Xiaoyun breathed a sigh of relief. Recalling what those people had asked her to do, and noting there was no sign of the others from the third branch returning, she asked: "Do you only live here during the day and move somewhere else at night?"

Mu Sanyue was startled. It was just as Sister Zhenzhen had predicted—someone would ask him this. Remembering what she had told him, he replied: "Yes, we don't live here at night."

Mu Xiaoyun was overjoyed: "Then where do you stay at night? Don't... don't misunderstand, I'm just afraid you might encounter danger. If something happens, my uncle and my father can come to rescue you in time."

Mu Sanyue blinked; he felt something was wrong with that statement. "I don't know. Sister Zhenzhen told me she waits until I'm asleep to have my eldest brother carry me away. When I wake up, we're back again. I don't know where we go."

Mu Xiaoyun didn't believe him, her tone full of suspicion: "Are you telling the truth?"

Mu Sanyue looked perfectly sincere: "Of course it's true."

Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, Mu Xiaoyun, who had been squatting, stood up and looked at the tent, which was currently green: "Where did you get this tent?"

Mu Sanyue didn't see any harm in telling the truth: "It was given to Sister Zhenzhen by her family." He was puzzled himself, wondering why his sister had turned the tent green during the day.

Mu Xiaoyun frowned: "Her family came to find her?"

Mu Sanyue nodded: "I think so."

Mu Xiaoyun's eyes suddenly lit up: "Then doesn't your tent have a lot of delicious food inside?"

Mu Sanyue didn't answer, just stared at her directly. Even at his young age, he understood the implication behind her words. Seeing his silence, Mu Xiaoyun looked sheepish and suddenly pointed toward the cave entrance: "Oh, it looks like someone is coming."

Mu Sanyue’s attention was instantly diverted, and he quickly walked toward the entrance.

Seeing this, Mu Xiaoyun turned and rushed toward the tent. She had seen earlier that the tent wasn't fully zipped shut. Even if Yu Jinzhen was inside, as long as she didn't wake her, she could steal some things and take them back. As for Mu Sanyue, she could just fool him later.

What she didn't know was that the tent flap had been opened by Yu Jinzhen just moments ago, specifically to lure her in.

As soon as she opened the flap, she saw Yu Jinzhen sitting in the living area, looking at her with a faint smile.

"At such a young age, you really are pulling out all the stops. Do you think you can deceive my younger brother?"

Hearing the voice, Mu Sanyue turned around abruptly.

Mu Xiaoyun’s face turned pale. She clearly hadn't expected Yu Jinzhen to be awake. Recalling how fierce Yu Jinzhen looked when she beat up her grandfather last time, she couldn't help but tremble: "You... what are you talking about? I... I don't understand."

Yu Jinzhen stood up slowly and walked toward the entrance. For every step she took forward, Mu Xiaoyun took one backward. Suddenly, Yu Jinzhen raised her hand.

Thinking she was about to be hit, Mu Xiaoyun hurriedly said: "I just came to see Sanyue! I have things to do at home, I'll go back now."

But just as she turned to leave, Yu Jinzhen pressed down on her shoulder. Mu Xiaoyun tried to turn back, but Yu Jinzhen's grip was too strong; a single hand rendered her unable to move. Terrified, she cried out: "What do you want to do?"

Yu Jinzhen said coldly: "I don't believe that my godfather and my brothers Yiyue and Eryue would all be away from the cave at the same time, leaving Sanyue here alone. Tell me honestly—what did you do to them?"

Mu Xiaoyun was only ten and didn't want to talk, but the pressure from Yu Jinzhen’s hand on her shoulder grew tighter. Feeling that she would definitely be beaten if she didn't tell the truth, she had no choice but to confess:

"Don't hit me! We didn't do anything. Grandma told me to come and tell you that she saw the third uncle and Eryue fall into a pit while they were out gathering firewood, and they couldn't climb out. Yiyue was worried, so he followed the direction I told him."