For days, Madam Yue woke up in nightmares. The scenes she dreamt of became more frequent, yet she couldn't identify them, nor the daughter who called her "mother." The girl looked so familiar, but she was certain she had no daughter, only Yue Ran as her son.
"Madam, the Young Sect Master has passed the fifteenth level of the Purgatory Tower!" Jing Shu ran in, exclaiming joyfully. "Madam, the Young Sect Master might break the old Sect Master's record."
Madam Yue smiled. "That brat. I don't want him to be carried in on a stretcher for his birthday banquet."
"He won't, Madam, rest assured."
Jing Shu walked to Madam Yue's side and noticed the dark circles under her eyes. She frowned. "Madam, you haven't been sleeping well lately. Shall I have the physician examine you?"
"No need," Madam Yue said softly. "Ran'er doesn't know when he'll be out either."
"After passing the fifteenth level, the Young Sect Master and Xiao Qin came out. From the fifteenth level onwards, the difficulty increases. They need to make thorough preparations before attempting the next challenges."
"Have them come to dine with me."
"Yes, Madam."
When Jing Shu arrived, a flicker of light flashed in Xiao Man's eyes. It seemed the Blue Spirit Flower was working. While she was reluctant to admit it, she had to concede that Madam Yue was her birth mother, Lan Ruo Xian!
"Young Sect Master, Madam invites you and Young Master Xiao Qin to dine together."
"I'll ask Second Brother…" Yue Ran was about to knock on the door to ask Xiao Man's opinion when Xiao Man opened it.
"Madam's kind invitation, how can we refuse? Let's go."
"Good." Yue Ran was overjoyed. His greatest worry was that they wouldn't get along. If Xiao Man could interact harmoniously with his mother, many obstacles on his path forward would be reduced.
The lunch was very rich. Madam Yue enthusiastically served food to both of them, and they got along very well.
After the meal, they sat in the courtyard drinking tea. "Let me brew the tea. I noticed Madam's complexion isn't very good. Haven't you been resting well?"
Madam Yue leaned back against her chair, her gaze fixed on Xiao Man. Watching Xiao Man brew tea with such elegant movements, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if she had seen it somewhere before. Even before Xiao Man made her next move, she could guess it, which astonished her!
"Who taught you your tea-brewing technique?"
"My master," Xiao Man said softly. "Not my current master, but my former master. It is said that his tea-brewing technique was learned from my mother."
"Where is your master now?"
"In hell," Xiao Man replied indifferently, but Madam Yue read much meaning into those two words.
"And your mother?"
"She was captured and her whereabouts remain unknown to this day," Xiao Man said slowly, looking into Madam Yue's eyes.
"When was your mother captured?"
"Twenty years ago." Xiao Man placed the brewed tea in front of Madam Yue. "This tea is called Snow Mountain Spring Dawn, my mother's favorite."
Madam Yue heard this, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The faint aroma of tea lingered in her mouth, vaguely familiar, yet she couldn't pinpoint why. She took another sip, but the feeling of familiarity vanished.
"I feel like I've drunk this somewhere before," Madam Yue said with a smile. "Perhaps I used to like this tea."
"What tea did Madam like before?"
"I don't know," Madam Yue said softly. "I suffered an injury and lost my past memories, so I don't know what tea I liked. But I like Jade Bud now."
"People's tastes can change. Like me, I used to detest bitter melon, but now I find it quite tasty," Xiao Man said with a smile.
"Child, you are of a similar age to Ran'er, yet you are much more composed than him," Madam Yue said softly, her gaze falling on Yue Ran, who was playing with a branch like a sword nearby. "I nearly lost my life giving birth to Ran'er. Since then, my body has been weak, and I can no longer have more children. Thus, Ran'er is my only child, and I can't help but dote on him."
"Although A'ran can be a bit childish, he understands right from wrong," Xiao Man said calmly. "I often hear him mention Madam, saying that Madam is gentle and exceedingly kind."
Madam Yue immediately smiled. "I heard you are an alchemist?"
"Yes, Madam. I am."
"Can you diagnose?"
"Yes."
"Then, please examine me. See if there are any problems with my body," Madam Yue whispered, sending Jing Shu out of the room so Xiao Man could examine her.
Xiao Man glanced at the outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, then took Madam Yue's pulse. The examination indeed revealed several issues, and she looked at Madam Yue.
"Does Madam usually have the sect's physician check her pulse for well-being?"
"Yes, the sect's physician said I am in good health."
Xiao Man withdrew her hand and handed a bottle of medicine to Madam Yue. "Take one pill a day to nourish your body. As for other medicines, you should stop taking them."
"Other medicines?" Madam Yue looked surprised. "I haven't taken any other medicine."
Xiao Man finally understood. Madam Yue's amnesia wasn't due to an injury, but rather medicine. Yue Tianxia must have been continuously giving her medicine to block her memories. This medicine was likely added to her food and drink stealthily by someone close to her. The Blue Spirit Flower she had taken had conflicted with the other medicine, causing the anomaly in her pulse.
"Perhaps my diagnosis was mistaken," Xiao Man said apologetically. "I saw Madam's pulse was a bit strange, as if some medicinal power was conflicting with the effects of the Blue Spirit Flower. That's why Madam has been suffering from insomnia and vivid dreams. But it's fine; once the effects of the Blue Spirit Flower are fully absorbed, the symptoms will disappear."
Madam Yue naturally didn't believe Xiao Man's diagnosis was mistaken. Someone must have added something to her food and drink. The medicine didn't seem to harm her body; perhaps her husband had asked Jing Shu to add it to her diet, as she hated taking medicine.
"My husband is always worried about my health, fearing I might get hurt. He sends the best things my way. Perhaps I accidentally consumed other spiritual herbs, and I've forgotten."
A happy smile appeared on Madam Yue's face. Looking at her smile, Xiao Man felt a pang in her heart. She had to admit that Madam Yue was living happily now. She was content with this life. Should she shatter the happiness before her, even if it was just a fabricated illusion?
"That must be it," Xiao Man said, going along with Madam Yue's words.
Seeing that Xiao Man wasn't prying, Madam Yue breathed a sigh of relief. "Today, please do not tell anyone about your examination of me, not even Ran'er."
"Alright."