Tan Ye lowered his head, facing his son's mockery, he said nothing.
But Tan Yue sensed something was wrong.
He suddenly craned his neck, looking warily behind Tan Ye: "You... you didn't come alone, did you?"
Tan Ye was stunned, not knowing how Tan Yue had found out. Tan Yue was already walking towards them.
As Tan Yue's footsteps grew closer, Song Chaoyu nervously gripped Mu Changxi's hand.
At that moment, Tan Xing, who was beside them, also darted out: "It's me!"
The young man seemed to have finally snapped out of the joy and panic of being lost and found.
He clenched his fists, then slowly walked towards Tan Yue.
Tan Xing, almost through gritted teeth, uttered a few words: "Brother, long time no see!"
Ming Min, over the years, Tan Yue had imagined many ways he might reunite with his younger brother, but he had never expected this.
"Xiao Xing."
Tan Yue also stepped forward, his eyes flickering with excitement.
"Bang—"
However, as Tan Yue approached Tan Xing, Tan Xing suddenly lunged at him!
His fist, ferociously, landed on Tan Yue's face.
The stubborn young man also burst into tears at this moment: "Tan Yue, you scoundrel! Why were you alive all these years, yet you never sent any news?! Do you know, I always thought you were dead!"
Tan Yue did not get angry even after being punched by Tan Xing.
Instead, he stepped forward and hugged Tan Xing with concern: "I'm sorry, Xiao Xing. Many things were beyond my control. But it's truly wonderful to see you. I've been worried about you all these years. It's so good that you're back."
Even so, Tan Yue remained clear-headed.
He suddenly looked towards Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi: "You who are hiding there, come out. I've scattered enticing scents outside, and I know how many have trespassed. Don't worry, I won't call anyone."
This Tan Yue is indeed not an ordinary person!
Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi had no reason to hide any longer.
They emerged from behind the trees.
Tan Yue watched Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi come out, then gestured for everyone to enter the house: "There are too many people outside. For bringing my brother here, I won't call anyone today. Let's go inside and talk!" wap.kanshuwu.net
After they followed Tan Yue into the house, Tan Yue closed the doors and windows.
Then he called out to the outside: "I'm going to sleep."
Someone guarding outside responded: "Mr. Tan is sleeping so early today?"
"Yes."
Tan Yue's tone was normal: "The past two days have been very tiring. I have to get up early tomorrow, so I must sleep early. Tonight, no matter what happens, do not disturb me."
"Yes!"
The guards outside seemed to obey Tan Yue's orders.
Tan Yue turned back and blew out two candles, plunging the large room into darkness except for a single dim candlelight.
Mu Changxi was wary of his actions, leading Song Chaoyu to the window, her hand held tightly by Mu Changxi.
"You don't need to be afraid. Even for my brother's sake, I won't call anyone."
Tan Yue sensed Mu Changxi's wariness and gave a cold smile: "Anyone found here will be killed without exception. So if you are discovered, it means my brother will be discovered. I just found Xiao Xing, and I wouldn't do something so foolish."
His words were, at last, somewhat trustworthy.
Seeing that Tan Yue's demeanor had changed so much from before, Tan Xing finally asked the question: "Brother, what exactly happened? Didn't you die? Why are you alive again, why are you in this place? What is this place?"
Tan Yue's gaze drifted to Tan Xing: "Xiao Xing, some things you shouldn't ask, so don't ask."
He told Tan Xing that he had indeed fallen off a cliff that year, and on that rainy night, he thought he was going to die.
However, as if heaven favored him, he did not die.
It was just that Tan Xing was too young at the time to know that Tan Yue had entered a state of "suspended animation" due to the low temperature at night.
In fact, after Tan Yue was buried, he "came back to life" from the coffin!
When he realized he was sealed inside the coffin, Tan Yue was truly terrified.
He frantically banged on the coffin, thinking all hope was lost, that he would likely suffocate in the coffin.
But just as he was about to give up, the lid of the coffin was miraculously opened by someone!
Tan Yue referred to the person who saved him as "Mr. Zhu."
This Mr. Zhu, dressed in black robes, appearing in this graveyard, was truly baffling.
But undeniably, it was his timely appearance that saved Tan Yue, who was trapped in the coffin.
He did not save Tan Yue for free; he required repayment.
Especially after learning that Tan Yue was from the Tan family and had learned medicine from Tan Ye, inheriting much of the Tan family's knowledge, Mr. Zhu brought Tan Yue to this place.
At this point, Tan Yue's eyes grew deeper: "Don't ask what this place is for, or who Mr. Zhu is. Mr. Zhu's patron is far greater than you can imagine. Mr. Zhu promised me that if I could help that person accomplish one task, and develop more poisons known only to the Tan clan, he would let me go once the great matter was settled."
Saying this, Tan Yue reached out and stroked Tan Xing's head: "So Xiao Xing, no matter what you are here for this time, I can pretend not to know. When it's late at night, I will take you out. You will leave from where you came in!"
His eyes held forbearance and expectation for the future: "When I have finished everything, I will receive a large sum of money. Then I will take you, and we will leave this place together. We will open a pharmacy, and you will live a better life. Xiao Xing, this is my promise to you!"
Even Song Chaoyu had to admit that Tan Yue was at least a brother who could be responsible for Tan Xing.
If it weren't for their future, Tan Yue probably wouldn't have been exploited here all this time.
However...
Mu Changxi suddenly looked up, her gaze serious as she looked at Tan Yue: "Tan Yue, do you think you can still leave this place alive?"
Tan Yue's brow immediately furrowed: "What do you mean?!"
Mu Changxi asked Tan Yue directly: "The person behind your so-called Mr. Zhu should be the current Prince Ning... oh no, he has been stripped of his title. The former Prince Ning, Mu Hansu, right?"
Mu Hansu?!
Everything here was related to him?!
Song Chaoyu was shocked, but not surprised.