Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 571: Tragedy of Love

"Does General Cao not grasp this simplest of truths? Maybe he got too ahead of himself again and acted too hastily?"

"Who knew that today, Lu Yao would soar so high, embodying the very essence of a lowly man reaching heights unimagined..."

"What more can you expect from a bumpkin?"

"Below his neck, Lu Yao is world-class."

"Haha!"

Among the crowd, Gu Sutao, the girl in the peach dress listened to the conversations around her, her expression deep and unreadable. "That wretched mole, knocking over my late-night snack."

Just then, an old woman appeared beside the girl in the peach dress.

"Young miss, I have news," the old woman whispered, her eyes hollow yet piercing.

"Speak," Gu Sutao commanded, arms crossed.

"As you directed, we've looked into Sky Soaring City and made a grand discovery!" The old woman looked around, ensuring their privacy, then whispered, "Princess Divine Dawn was reborn in Sky Soaring City, and Lu Yao appeared there during that same period too. You asked me to check if he had any companions, and interestingly, he did."

"It wasn't a beautiful mystery woman behind a mask, was it?" Gu Sutao raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?" The old woman looked at her anew. "Young mistress, divining the future, are you?"

Gu Sutao smirked. "A companion, remarkable yet unseen, can only mean she was concealed."

"You mean to say, Lu Yao's companion was none other than Princess Divine Dawn? These two, seemingly unrelated, are actually connected?" the old woman gasped in surprise.

"The world's filled with oddities; this hardly makes the list." Gu Sutao chuckled.

"And Lu Yao, he's not one to be trifled with..." the old woman stated gravely.

Gu Sutao laughed softly, her voice chilling. "Tell me, how does a reborn princess simply vanish? Was her previous death real or staged? Whom did she offend to now hide like a rat crossing the street?"

With a cold smile, she continued, "This young princess is naïve, bearing the same foolish air as Lu Yao. Whether it's the princess in the Celestial Court or Lu Yao in the Thunder Department, do you think they stand a chance?"

"True, those who place themselves upon the fire need not be touched; they'll roast all on their own." The old woman chuckled grimly.

Remembering something, she added, "Young miss, do you wonder about the nature of Lu Yao's relationship with his mysterious companion?"

The girl in the peach dress posed the question, "They're claiming to be... a married couple, right?"

"You've guessed right again!" the old woman exclaimed with endless praise. "You've always been sharp, even as a child."

The girl rolled her eyes dismissively. After a brief pause, her eyes sparkled with cunning. "Spread a rumor for me—say someone saw with their own eyes, Princess Divine Dawn in Sky Soaring City, sharing intimate moments with a young man named Lu Yao."

"..." The old woman frowned, puzzled.

With a secretive smile, Gu Sutao hinted, "I believe someone is out to kill Princess Divine Dawn."

"So, many will come sniffing around this boy for clues?" the old woman asked.

"Exactly." Gu Sutao nodded.

"What's in it for us?" the old woman inquired.

Rolling her eyes again, Gu Sutao complained, "Damn it, my last trip to the mortal realm to collect offerings was sabotaged, and now I have to reapply, who knows how long that queue will be!"

"And so?"

"If any interested party confirms the link between Lu Yao and Divine Dawn, they'll trace the rumor back to its source. I'll give them an address in exchange for ten opportunities to collect offerings... My father will handle it. Ten offerings should cover it, right?"

"It most certainly will." The old woman smiled wryly. She couldn't help but remark, "Young miss, you are indeed cunning."

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Back In Sky Soaring City…

"Miss Yu." Liu Mumu, clad in splendid armor, gently pushed open the wooden gate of the courtyard.

Inside, a woman in simple clothes was tending to her garden and celestial pigs.

Hearing the sound, she quickly stood up, adjusted her attire, and came forward with a smile. "Commander Liu, you’re here? Please, have a seat."

"I'll stand," Liu Mumu said as she approached and took the woman's hands in hers, speaking softly, "I'd like to take you out for a bit of fun, would you like that?"

The woman in simple clothes was startled. Her anxiety quickly mounted. "D-did my sons offend someone outside?"

"No." Liu Mumu tightened her grip reassuringly. "They haven’t offended anyone. Actually, there’s great news. Lu Yao went to the Thunder Department for the selection, didn’t he? He's performed remarkably well, and a high-ranking official from the Thunder Department has taken a keen interest in him. This is well-known throughout Sky Soaring City now. Lu Yao is quite the talk of the town."

"Really?" Miss Yu's disbelief made her feel as if she were dreaming.

"Yes, so he specifically asked me to look after you, to prevent anyone from harming you out of jealousy," Liu Mumu explained, then pleaded, "To help Lil Yao continue with his duties without worry, would you accompany me for a few days of respite?"

"Sure, sure. How could it not be fine?" Miss Yu quickly replied.

"Then shall we go now?" Liu Mumu asked.

"But what about my celestial pigs, my vegetables..." Miss Yu expressed her dilemma.

"Never mind them," Liu Mumu said, half laughing, half crying.

"Alright... then can I bring something with me?" Miss Yu asked.

"Just a few things."

"I'll just take one item."

Miss Yu said, going back towards the tomb area, she carefully wrapped up Lu Bufan's plaque, murmuring, "Some are jealous of Lil Yao, I fear they might destroy this, so I'll move it for now. Don’t be upset."

With the tomb plaque in hand, the two set out.

Just then, a group of people appeared outside. Leading them was a woman, disheveled, with swollen red eyes and a deathly pale face!

At first glance, it was hard to tell, but it was indeed Madame Lu.

"Where are you going?" Madame Lu’s voice was as cold as ice.

"What’s it to you?" Liu Mumu paused, then said, "Step aside."

"You can go, but she cannot," Madame Lu declared.

"Madame. Lu Yao is now the foster son of the Summer Thunder Duke of the Thunder Department, and you know just how elevated his status is. I'm taking Miss Yu to enjoy some good fortune. Would you dare block us, risking the complete ruin of the last foundations of the Lu Immortal Manor?" Liu Mumu spoke coldly.

Hearing this, Madame Lu’s face twisted in anger.

"The foster son of a Rank 3 Heavenly Officer…" Miss Yu, hearing this, was also somewhat bewildered.

"Move aside." Liu Mumu didn’t spare Madame Lu any pleasantries, she simply led Miss Yu past her, while those behind Madame Lu hurriedly made way, their eyes filled with complex emotions as they looked at Miss Yu.

They were all from the Lu Immortal Manor, having witnessed many of Miss Yu’s tragedies!

Yet today, this woman who had suffered so much, in this moment, seemed to surpass even Madame Lu herself.

As Miss Yu's son ascended to the pinnacle, Madame Lu's husband and two children were wiped from existence—a stark contrast that made the judgment of their worth immediate and harsh.

This was the vengeance Yun Xiao exacted for Lu Yao.

Liu Mumu witnessed this scene, her heart awash with countless emotions. That young man, at the very least, proved worthy of the name Lu Yao...

As she passed Madame Lu, Liu Mumu remembered something chilling. Turning back with a cold voice, she said to Madame Lu, "I've heard from Lu An that you were the one who blinded Miss Yu. Just wait, your retribution will come."

"Commander Liu, it's alright, let bygones be bygones... It's better to be kind," Miss Yu hastily said.

Despite being so mistreated, she still spoke in defense of Madame Lu. Why was there such a vast gulf between the benevolent and the wicked?

Liu Mumu couldn't understand it.

All she wanted was to take Miss Yu and leave this place forever.

"Liu Mumu!" Madame Lu suddenly laughed—a fierce, ugly laugh.

"I was on my way to see the Longevity Immortal, and my husband gave me a flying talisman, sharing some amusing news. Want to hear it?" Madame Lu's laugh was grotesque, both in sound and sight.

Liu Mumu frowned, ignoring her words, and continued walking away.

"Lu An is dead!" Madame Lu shrieked.

At those words, Liu Mumu stopped in her tracks, closing her eyes.

Beside her, Miss Yu, walking along, suddenly sank to her knees, bowed her head, and black tears streamed down once again. Perhaps, she had sensed this was coming. When someone else uttered the news, it was as if the sky had shattered and the earth had split asunder.

"You must have guessed he was dead, but you surely didn't know who actually killed him!" Madame Lu cackled madly.

"Miss Yu, let's go." Liu Mumu helped Miss Yu up and, turning their backs to Madame Lu, they started to walk away.

"You can't run from the truth!" Madame Lu's face twisted grotesquely, her eyes piercing as she shrieked with a sharp, maniacal laughter.

"The one who killed Lu An was none other than your own father, Liu Zongyu! He confessed it before my husband!"

Her words struck like thunder, halting Liu Mumu and Miss Yu in their tracks.

"Don't believe her lies." Liu Mumu gripped Miss Yu's hand tightly, her own face trembling.

Yet, Madame Lu continued her ghastly grin, shouting, "Do you know why your father wanted him dead? Because you fancied that Lu family reject! You caused his death, do you understand? A lady of your standing, playing a forbidden romance with a pauper? You killed him with your own hands, do you understand?"

After her tirade, she mocked Miss Yu further, "How pitiful, will you leave with the murderer of your son? How would Lu An view you as a mother from the underworld?"

"Shut up!!" Liu Mumu broke down, tears streaming down her face.

"You still don't believe it? Then let me tell you the details!"

Madame Lu laughed wildly, her voice chillingly cold, "First, your father sent him on a dangerous mission far away, arranged an assassination, but he survived and returned to Sky Soaring City with some intriguing news. No choice then, your father had to have him killed a second time! And this time, he didn't come back!

"Liu Mumu, do you believe it now?

"If not, it doesn't matter. Go home, ask your father, ask your brother to tell you how desperately Lu An died! Your love murdered an ordinary man!

"Liu Mumu, your life is truly tragic. You're made a fool by your father and brother, still believing in them, what a joke, haha..."