Chapter 340 - 282: Changsheng Su Family, Stories of the Past! (Double-Length)
Liu Xiangnan nodded, his figure moved, raising a breeze as he swept past the street corner.
Song Changming, who had gradually walked away, seemed to feel something and stopped to look back.
Sometimes fate is so ingenious that even if you are separated across the ends of the earth for many years, there will always be a day for a reunion...
A moment later.
At a renowned restaurant in the Second District.
"This is the person Brother Liu mentioned before..." Song Changming looked at Jiang River, who was seated at the head, and couldn’t help but ask.
With just one glance, he noticed the uncommon characteristics of Jiang River.
Though appearing to be only in his thirties, his eyes carried the wisdom of ages past.
More importantly, his life aura was ancient, far beyond what a normal person in their thirties could compare to.
Almost without guessing, he could tell that this person was the Immortal Liu Xiangnan had mentioned to him.
"That’s right, senior is indeed the one who saved me back in the day..." Liu Xiangnan nodded and candidly said.
He briefly explained the events that followed.
Before Song Changming arrived at the Ancient Abyss Country, Jiang River had already visited Da Lai and taken Liu Xiangnan and Zhao Dongming to the Yun Province on the Other Shore of the Abyss, and had been traveling in the Ancient Abyss Country for over two years.
Until today, they met Song Changming again.
When the two first met, neither expected that they would both come to the Ancient Abyss Country, only to say that there was still some unfinished destiny between them.
"So, senior is also from the Changsheng Clan?" Song Changming asked.
"Shangli Dao in Yun Province, Changsheng Jiang Family." Jiang River nodded, smiling faintly in response.
After saying this, his gaze fell on Su Qingqing beside him.
"If I’m not mistaken, the young lady ought to be a descendant of a Changsheng family too."
Su Qingqing’s face tightened, and she couldn’t help but look at Song Changming beside her.
She worried that once her identity was exposed, the Su Family would find out.
Song Changming was also somewhat surprised and couldn’t help asking, "How did senior know?"
Jiang River’s smile remained unchanged as he replied, "The life aura of a Changsheng family descendant differs from that of ordinary people and can be perceived by those with strong spiritual perception."
Song Changming suddenly understood. No wonder he sensed something unusual about Jiang River’s aura at first sight.
"The young lady always hides her appearance with a veil, perhaps there is an unspeakable secret," Jiang River continued, a slightly curious expression on his face.
"Indeed, please forgive her, senior," Song Changming spoke on behalf of Su Qingqing.
"It’s nothing. We meet by chance, and everyone has their secrets," Jiang River didn’t press further, sipping from the cup of wine.
"Is senior here to visit the Su Family this time?" Song Changming shifted the topic.
"I visited them already, but unfortunately, no old friends were around, so it was a wasted trip," Jiang River shook his head.
"The old friend senior intended to visit wouldn’t happen to be Su Fengye of the Su Family, would it?" Song Changming suddenly said.
"Oh? You know Fengye as well? He is indeed one of my old friends," Jiang River said, somewhat surprised.
"This old friend of yours was quite a remarkable talent in Cui City back in the day. I’ve only heard about his past deeds and admire him greatly, but it’s said that he has been missing for some years now," Song Changming said tentatively.
To learn more about the current situation of the Su Family, Jiang River, a Changsheng family descendant in Yun Province who had just visited them, was undoubtedly the best person to inquire.
"It wouldn’t be accurate to say he’s missing, just that something happened more than twenty years ago that caused him to leave for a while. He’s long since returned to the family, but his wife, who was once so loving, is now..."
Jiang River paused at this, shaking his head as if he felt a sense of regret.
Beside him, Su Qingqing was frozen stiff, her hands trembling lightly under the table.
She was grateful that she could still remain calm upon hearing news about her parents.
Su Fengye, whom Song Changming had just mentioned, was the name of her biological father.
The many things about her father, naturally, had been told to him by Su Qingqing.
"Could senior go into more detail about this matter?" Song Changming asked.
"Are you interested in this matter?" Jiang River smiled, suddenly questioning back.
"I’m indeed a little curious. If it’s not something that can be shared, then never mind," Song Changming shook his head, knowing that Jiang River might have suspected something and did not insist on inquiring further.
Jiang River slightly restrained the smile on his face and suddenly spoke to himself.
"About sixty years ago, the Su Family had two brothers, both extraordinarily talented and well-known throughout Yun Province. They were the two faces of the Su Family back then. It was during those days that I met them through the introduction of the family.
We traveled the world together, honing our Martial Tao heart, and through this process formed a profound friendship, becoming best friends..."
Song Changming, Su Qingqing, and others quietly listened.
They both knew, though the story seemed far-fetched, one of the individuals Jiang River mentioned was Su Qingqing’s father, Su Fengye.
"Later on, we met a woman. Her beauty was extraordinary, as if she had walked out of a painting, a fairy incarnate. We all had encounters with her, and she eventually fell in love with Fengye.
Fengye disregarded his family’s and elder brother’s dissuasions and resolutely married her. Later, I don’t know how Fengye managed to compel the Su Family to accept this matter.
About thirty years ago, the two even had a daughter, but unfortunately, afterward..."
Jiang River paused here briefly, shaking his head as he drank.
"What happened after that?" Su Qingqing, unable to hold back any longer, blurted out.
Jiang River looked at Su Qingqing, stunned for a moment, but not annoyed by her rudeness. Instead, he smiled warmly at her, put down his wine cup, and continued.
"Among Changsheng clans, to ensure the continuation of the Changsheng bloodline, there is usually a rule that states one may only marry and have children with descendants of Changsheng families.
Having offspring with those outside the Changsheng family would only dilute the family’s Changsheng bloodline. Fengye broke the family rules, which led to the Su Family’s opposition. Fengye was indeed at fault for this, but if it were only for that, it could be overlooked, but who would have thought..."
Jiang River sighed deeply, his expression complicated.
"Who would have thought Yan Xue was not even of the Human Race, but a Demon!"
Xi Yanxue, this was the name of the extraordinary woman they encountered back in those days, and she was Su Fengye’s wife.
"This..." Song Changming was also taken aback by this unexpected turn of events.
For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
He suddenly understood why Su Qingqing’s parents had disappeared all those years ago and why Su Qingqing had been abandoned by the Su Family and left to fend for herself on the Other Shore of the Abyss.
A prominent family figure, a prodigious offspring, marries a wife who not only lacks the Changsheng lineage but isn’t even a human...
The Changsheng clans are so proud that any elder in charge would be furious, their blood boiling, and unable to accept such a thing.
"The Human Race and Demon Race can indeed intermarry; after all, there are good Demons among them. But among Changsheng families, this was the first case, and the Su Family elders felt this brought shame to the family. They severely injured Yan Xue, almost killing her in the mansion..."
Hearing this, Su Qingqing’s breathing was already chaotic, her eyes reddening.
Zhao Dongming, who was listening, frowned and asked, "What about Su Fengye? Did he just let his wife be beaten and killed without doing anything?"
Song Changming also frowned, looking at Jiang River.
"In this matter, even Fengye was kept in the dark; perhaps his mind was also troubled..."
Jiang River seemed to be defending his old friend by saying this.
Song Changming shook his head secretly. No matter what, she was still his wife of decades; how could he watch her nearly be killed and remain indifferent?
However, this matter is indeed complex, and he doesn’t fully know all the details. Without the whole picture, he doesn’t intend to evaluate the actions of the couple.
After all, the story revealed that the wife also deliberately concealed her Demon heritage, which is also a fact.
At present, he was more concerned about Su Qingqing, who knew the truth, as she was certainly the most affected by this matter.
"Where are they now?" After a long silence, Su Qingqing suddenly spoke up.
Jiang River looked at her and said, "Fengye is still in the Su Mansion, often in secluded cultivation, focused on training. Yan Xue has been missing for years."
"Didn’t you say they had a daughter?" Su Qingqing asked.
"I heard she died young," Jiang River replied, then suddenly added, "But I think this ill-fated child should still be alive."
"..." Su Qingqing said no more.
Beside her, Liu Xiangnan suddenly looked at Su Qingqing, deep in thought.
"Could it be?!"
...