Seeing his reaction, Lin Yue knew he had jumped to the worst conclusion. In truth, she didn't know whether Xiaya had jumped on her own or accidentally fallen into the river either.
However, the original host hadn't possessed a fierce temperament, nor was there any record of her being in love with anyone. Before Lin Yue transmigrated into her body, she had never seemed to resist.
"Since Xiaya could run away, she probably wouldn't end her own life. Perhaps it was an accident."
A clear, cool voice interrupted Wu Yang's train of thought. Snapping back to reality, he pondered it carefully and felt that what "Lin Ze" said made some sense.
The Xiaya he knew wouldn't joke with her own life. She would fight back and try every possible way to escape rather than take her own life.
Light flickered in Wu Yang's eyes as he scrutinized the calm young man before him. Whether in appearance, demeanor, or tone, he was the spitting image of her.
If Xiaya were still alive, she surely would have married and had children by now, and her child would be about this age.
A flash of regret crossed Wu Yang's deep black eyes, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out as he said with fatherly warmth, "I feel an instant bond with you, Little Brother Lin. If you ever have nowhere to go in the future, just come to your Uncle Wu."
Lin Yue: "..."
"As the saying goes, good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil. The Lin family reaped the benefits brought by Xiaya, yet forced her to leave, her fate unknown. What became of them?"
Surprised, Wu Yang looked at Lin Yue. After brief consideration, he still spoke up: "Xiaya's parents passed away five years ago."
"Her younger sister, Sanya, died as well."
Hearing this, Lin Yue froze slightly.
"Wang Dashi couldn't father children, so he forced Sanya to sleep with his younger brother. After Sanya became pregnant, Wang Dashi harbored deep resentment over it. When word of this leaked out, he flew into a rage, beating Sanya to death and causing a double homicide—her and the unborn child."
"That is far too cruel! It was clearly his own failure, yet he blamed it on his wife!" The Fang siblings were shocked upon hearing this, especially Fang Yu, who was particularly filled with righteous indignation as a woman.
"Scumbag! Dying wouldn't be enough for him! If I ever met someone like that, I'd kill him myself!"
Wu Yang continued, "Having committed murder, Wang Dashi was executed by hanging."
Only then did most of Fang Yu's anger subside, though she still cursed under her breath, "Serves him right."
Lin Yue understood. A matter like this would usually be suppressed by the local clan and never reach the county court, let alone result in an execution. Wu Yang must have personally intervened.
Oh well, consider it a resolution of karmic cause and effect.
Lin Yue poured herself a cup of osmanthus wine, rich and smooth, sweet and lingering on the palate.
The four of them chatted a bit longer before Lin Yue and the other two stood up to take their leave. "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so Uncle Wu should go spend time with your family. We won't keep you any longer."
"I have two martial arts instructors in my manor who usually teach my children. Since the three of you plan to attend the martial arts convention, why not come to the manor and spar with them?"
Hearing this, the excitement in the Fang siblings' eyes was beyond words.
A man like Wu Yang clearly came from a wealthy household, so the martial arts instructors in his residence had to be at least second-rate masters. Getting some guidance from them would be of immense benefit to their martial arts.
However, one had to be cautious when traveling the jianghu. The two exchanged meaningful glances for a moment before looking to Lin Yue.
Lin Yue replied calmly, "We wouldn't dare claim to spar with them. It is getting late, so we will visit Uncle Wu another day."
At the entrance of Zhaixing Tower, Wu Yang watched the three walk away, his gaze lingering on the young lad.
"Master, Madam, the young master, and the young lady are waiting for you at the manor. They sent me to ask when you will be returning," a servant boy ran up, bowing as he asked.
"I won't be returning tonight. Tell them to rest," Wu Yang's voice turned somewhat cold.
"But—"
Just as the servant boy was about to speak, he caught a glimpse of the chill in his master's eyes. Shivering inside, he immediately answered and departed.
Wu Yang turned to the guard beside him and ordered, "Investigate Lin Ze's background, especially his parents."
"Yes, Master."
Returning to the inn, the Fang siblings couldn't stop thinking about the martial arts instructors. They had never encountered high-level instructors like that before, so it felt like such a pity.
Lin Yue was thinking about it as well. Her martial arts skills were indeed lacking; if she could get some guidance to take her techniques to the next level, it would be for the best.
Speaking of which, this was also the highest-ranking figure she could come into contact with.
However, she hadn't seen Wu Yang in many years and didn't know his current character. The three of them looked young; if he had them captured and sold, or locked them up to abuse due to some twisted urge, he had power and influence, making it hard for them to escape unscathed.
After discussing it for a while, the three decided to check into his identity and character first.
The next day, Lin Yue kept Chen Zhiyi in the inn and went out with the Fang siblings to conduct a background check.
The inquiries shocked Lin Yue. Wu Yang had passed the imperial examinations, ranking third as Tanhua, married a daughter of a prominent family, and steadily rose through the ranks until he achieved the position of Prefect.
He was courteous and refined, kept only one wife, had both a son and a daughter, had no concubines, and no wicked rumors surrounded him.
Whether out of respect for his wife's family or his own choice, staying monogamous made him a benchmark of moral standing in this era.
Of course, there were also dark rumors: he had personally sent a long-time subordinate to prison, abused a page boy who had followed him from his hometown, and was described as ruthless, cold, and unfeeling.
Perhaps because Wu Yang himself came from a rural background, he didn't spoil his children into arrogant bullies.
Overall, he possessed the authority and shrewdness expected of a prefecture's Prefect, as well as the etiquette and demeanor of a wealthy family head.
"In two days, when we leave the prefecture city, we can drop by the Wu Manor to invite Uncle Wu's two children to join us for the martial arts convention. That way, we can take the opportunity to seek advice on martial arts without seeming impolite," Fang Heng proposed, feeling pleased with his clever plan.
"Brother makes sense. The food at Zhaixing Tower was delicious, though it's a pity a single table costs dozens of taels," Fang Yu added wistfully, having never eaten such a lavish feast in her life.
Lin Yue certainly had money, but hiring high-level martial arts instructors required not just money, but also power and status—otherwise, one risked losing both life and wealth.
While the three were discussing, the inn waiter knocked on the room door.
"Young Master Lin, there's an invitation for you."
Lin Yue took the invitation and opened it. Wu Yang, in the name of a fellow townsman, invited them to his manor for a gathering to show hospitality.
"Should we go?" The Fang siblings poked their heads over, eager to accept.
"Let's go," Lin Yue said. If Wu Yang truly harbored ill intentions toward them, they lacked power and influence to escape anyway; furthermore, he was the Prefect, so they couldn't afford to disrespect him by declining.
After tidying up, the three went to Wu Manor, where they met Wu Yang in the main reception hall. Smiling, he cupped his hands in greeting.
"You three have arrived! Please, take a seat."
"Since Uncle Wu invited us, how could we not come?"
"Go bring the young master and young lady here," Wu Yang instructed a servant boy.
"Yes, Master."
Lin Yue exchanged a few polite pleasantries with Wu Yang before two teenagers walked in from outside the hall.
"Father!" "Father!"
The two teenagers, around fifteen or sixteen years old, gave their respects. They bore a slight resemblance to Wu Yang, appearing neat and handsome.
Wu Yang glanced at the two, nodded with an indifferent expression, and introduced both sides.
Upon hearing that Lin Yue and the other two were martial artists planning to go to the capital for the martial arts convention, and being of similar age, excitement shone in the eyes of the Wu siblings as well. The four began chatting about the martial world and quickly hit it off.
Dazed by the repeated praises of "young heroes" and the anticipation of meeting the martial arts instructors, Fang Heng and Fang Yu followed the Wu siblings out in a daydream-like state.
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