Section 38: Wan’er’s Past Life Identity
2013-02-09 Author: Gu Zhenren
Chu Yun had long known Yuwen Wan’er’s identity. He had met her during his trip to the Tumen World.
However, at that time, she was covered in a black robe, concealing her visage, which was as beautiful as that of the water fairy Luo Shen. Therefore, this was the first time Chu Yun had seen Yuwen Wan’er’s true face.
He was greatly astonished. “So Yuwen Wan’er is the Plague You King from my past life!”
In his past life, the seven Kings of the older generation had successively withdrawn from the Xingzhou stage due to various reasons. Their positions were replaced by a new generation of seven young Kings. During this process, the power struggles among the Kings caused a drastic change in the entire landscape of Xingzhou. The transition from old to new was a grand era.
The Plague You King was one of the seven young Kings!
She possessed a flower-like beauty, as cold and aloof as a secluded orchid. She often wore a black long dress, her brows perpetually furrowed with sorrow. She seemed frail but was actually ruthless and skilled in poison Cultivation Method.
In Chu Yun’s past life, in a fit of rage, she unleashed Demonic creatures, causing a plague and natural disaster that no one could resolve. She had single-handedly destroyed an Island Country, resulting in the deaths of tens of millions.
“Beautiful as a fairy, venomous as a demon.” This was the evaluation on the Teng List in the past life.
The Plague You King was very famous. Although Chu Yun in his past life was not qualified to see her in person, he had naturally seen her portrait.
However, as Chu Yun saw her now, Yuwen Wan’er’s demeanor lacked the cold ruthlessness of her past life. Her clear black and white beautiful eyes were filled with the ethereal radiance of a moonlit lotus pond, elegant and refined.
Her fair, jade-like face showed no hint of the melancholy and coldness of her past life. Instead, it was flushed with a charming blush, revealing her flustered state of mind.
“I understand. Yuwen Wan’er is the biological daughter of the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen. After the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen fell, she naturally passed on her legacy to her. She is known as the Plague You King and is skilled in poison, inheriting from the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen. In her past life, she must have gone through many unknown and painful experiences that caused her state of mind to change. But what exactly were those experiences that led to such a drastic change in her disposition?”
As a thought flashed through Chu Yun’s mind, some doubts vanished, and new questions filled his heart.
“What a perfect couple, matched in talent and beauty, a match made in heaven!”
“Who is this Princess? Dressed so plainly, yet she looks even more outstanding, her aura as serene and elegant as an orchid. How have I never heard of her before?”
“It’s truly disheartening to compare oneself to others. Yuwen Wan’er was favored by the Wushuang Master after participating in only one Marriage Recruitment Drive. I worked so hard but gained nothing…”
The exclamations, inquiries, and envious glances of those around them enveloped Yuwen Wan’er.
Yuwen Wan’er was extremely flustered. “How could this be? I’ve never interacted with the Wushuang Master. Why did he choose me?”
“Is this the man I will live with from now on? Why does he look at me with such a strange mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity?”
Just then, a female official delivering a message entered the Main Hall. “By royal decree, the Wushuang Master is summoned to the Coral Palace for an audience immediately.”
This news caused another stir in the Main Hall.
“What? The Country Lord, who has been reclusive and hasn’t managed court affairs for the past decade, is actually going to summon Wushuang!”
“Coral Palace is the Country Lord’s private residence. This shows how highly the Lord values the Wushuang Master.”
“Wushuang Master’s talent is astonishing, excelling in seven fields, as radiant as gold in both literary and martial arts. Such a genius is rare in a thousand years. It’s not surprising that the Mermaid King has specially summoned him.”
“Mermaid King? Among the older generation of Kings in Xingzhou, I have met four: the Wine King, the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, the Land Whale King, and the Falling Cherry King. The Greedy Wolf King was killed by me, and I will surely meet the Land Whale King soon. Only the Mermaid King and the Falling Cherry King have I not met in person. I wonder what the Mermaid King is like…”
Chu Yun’s heart stirred, and he followed the envoy out of the Main Hall.
The Royal Court was deep and tranquil, with exquisite and magnificent pavilions and towers.
The Coral Palace, predominantly in shades of blue and gold, featured rounded arched roofs and streamlined relief carvings, creating a unique style.
Upon entering the Hall, Chu Yun frowned. The air was filled with the King’s spiritual pressure, clearly intended by the Mermaid King as a display of dominance.
Any ordinary Marquis level expert would have turned pale and lost their composure. However, Chu Yun was the one who had slain the Greedy Wolf King and had personally experienced the overwhelming spiritual pressure of the Wine King during his Enlightenment.
Therefore, the Mermaid King’s action not only failed to achieve its intended effect but also allowed Chu Yun to gauge her strength. He mused, “Although this spiritual pressure from the Mermaid King is indeed that of a King, it feels somewhat lacking in confidence, like a strong exterior protecting an inner weakness. It seems the rumors in Xingzhou are not unfounded. The Mermaid King was defeated by Chu Bawang in the past and was severely injured. Although she has been recuperating, she has not yet recovered.”
Chu Yun’s expression remained unchanged. He strode confidently to the center of the Main Hall and looked up. He saw the Mermaid King seated on a grand throne made of red-gold coral. Her features were as beautiful as a painting, dressed in palace attire, adorned with pearls and jade, exuding elegance and nobility.
Her gaze was profound, as if the night sky had merged into her eyes. Her brows held a sharpness and authority beyond that of an ordinary woman, showcasing the boundless charm of this Queen.
However, among her cloud-like hair, a few strands of white were already visible, streaks of aging. She was from the same era as the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, and her age was well into the hundreds.
“Should I address you as Wushuang, or Chu Yun?” she asked as soon as she spoke, revealing Chu Yun’s disguise. Her eyes, as unfathomable as a deep pool, shot a chilling gaze, enveloping Chu Yun from her elevated position.
Chu Yun laughed heartily and waved his hand. “It matters not how you address me, as you wish, Senior.”
The wisdom of Kings was unfathomable, and their gaze was keen. Chu Yun’s disguise could only fool ordinary people. He had anticipated this and felt no embarrassment at being exposed by the Mermaid King, admitting it frankly.
“Very well. Chu Yun, you are an honest child. Tell me truthfully, did you marry Wan’er this time at the instruction of the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen?” The Mermaid King nodded, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes, and asked again.
Chu Yun’s expression turned solemn, and he cupped his hands towards the Mermaid King. “Indeed, Senior Ten Thousand Poisons Queen asked for my assistance. I believe Senior already knows my situation. The Ten Thousand Poisons Queen promised to help me fend off the Land Whale King’s attack.”
He did not wish to conceal this. Confronted by the wisdom of a King, deception was futile, so he admitted it.
“Hahaha. Chu Yun, you have been deceived. She is nearing the end of her life, not far from death. The Land Whale King, however, is in his prime. Her power is not as great as you imagine. Now, you will immediately leave this Hall and publicly announce that you regret your decision and give up Yuwen Wan’er. As compensation, you may choose any three treasures from the Mermaid Kingdom’s treasury. I will then not pursue this matter further.”
Having spoken, the Mermaid King closed her eyes, leaned back in her chair, and waved her hand, signaling Chu Yun to withdraw.
Hearing this, Chu Yun could not help but frown. If he truly did this, it would be a great blow to Yuwen Wan’er. It would be even more severe than her rejection during the Marriage Recruitment Drive. Apart from being unable to remarry for life, she would also have to bear the mockery, sarcasm, and contempt of those around her.
Moreover, he had personally promised the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen that he would help. How could he abandon her halfway?
Therefore, he did not hesitate and refused with a seal. “I’m afraid I cannot fulfill this request, Junior. The grievances between the Country Lord and Senior Ten Thousand Poisons Queen are matters of the previous generation. Why must the next generation be implicated? Wan’er is innocent. Why must the Country Lord transfer her hatred for the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen onto her?”
“So you believe I hate Wan’er? You are mistaken. I cherish Wan’er as my own flesh and blood. How could I possibly hate her?” The Mermaid King opened her eyes, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “Hehehe, it seems the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen did not tell you about the past. That’s right, how could she, being so base and vicious, willingly expose her own shame? I shall tell you about what happened back then.”
“Once, the Mermaid King and the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen were inseparable sisters. That year, as spring greenery covered the Jianghu, a man entered my life…” The Mermaid King’s gaze was like mist and smoke, her voice drawn out as she drifted into memory.
“He had the cleanest hands in the world, long and well-defined, with clean nails. His eyes were emerald green, and when he smiled, it could rival the sun and moon. He wore the robes of a scholar and held a fan, gentle and refined like jade. Just as you did not long ago, he was proficient in everything, possessing Master-level skill in sealing and pouch-making.”
“I still remember our first meeting by the lake. The glittering golden light on the lake’s surface illuminated his face. He smiled and said to me, ‘My name is Feng Hun. And yours?'”
“…”
“Hehehe, that year, I fell head over heels in love and felt like the happiest woman in the world. But it was also that year that my best sister and the man I loved betrayed me together. In my last meeting with Feng Hun, he handed me a child; it was their offspring.
“I never thought of taking revenge on a child to wash away my hatred. I raised him as my own, gave him my surname, and provided him with a nurturing environment. He truly resembled his father. Our mother-son lives were very happy… But it was she, the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen! She went mad and killed her own child right before my eyes!”
“New and old hatred, irreconcilable! If I hadn’t been defeated by Chu Bawang in my early years and severely injured, forcing me to recuperate in this deep palace. If it weren’t for the elusive Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, I would have sought revenge long ago! Now, she has extended her claws to my granddaughter, Wan’er. How can I let her succeed again?!”
The Mermaid King’s voice, sharp as a sword, echoed hoarsely in the Hall.
She suddenly stood up, pointed behind Chu Yun, her eyes blazing with fury, and roared, “Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, how long are you going to hide? Your ugly face has been exposed by me. Come, let us settle this today!”
(To be continued.)
