After the Death Ceremony, I was Entangled by My Two Wives - Chapter 27

I feel like I don’t quite understand my own heart right now…

Ying Buran instinctively reached for her mask. It was impossible not to feel nervous in this moment.

In those brief seconds, a flood of thoughts raced through her mind: Would others discover my secret? Would they see me as an outsider? Would they call for my death?

She knew Jiang Liuyan wouldn’t betray her, but instinct compelled her to consider every possible consequence.

This very instinct had been her lifeline all these years. Without such caution, she would likely have perished long ago.

Ying Buran’s mind became a tangled mess. She instinctively turned to Zhao Chao’an for guidance. Noticing her gaze, Zhao Chao’an snapped out of her surprise and whispered, “Do you trust her?”

“…Of course I do,” Ying Buran nodded. Though they had only just acknowledged their relationship, her mother had already done so much for her. She would never harm her.

Zhao Chao’an exhaled deeply, then smiled and gently pinched Ying Buran’s cheek. “Then there’s nothing to worry about,” she said in a lighthearted tone. “Whatever you choose, we’ll support you.”

Jiang Liuyan observed their interaction without betraying any emotion. She nodded in agreement with Zhao Chao’an. “Exactly. There’s no need to feel pressured. Just do what you want.”

Ying Buran nodded, visibly more relaxed, though a hint of unease lingered. This time, her hesitation stemmed from her fragmented memories.

To be honest, she only knew that her incomplete soul had prevented her from fully crossing the Gate of Life and Death. Although her soul had been restored, she remained in an incomplete state of resurrection.

As for the full context and sequence of events, her understanding remained vague, and she instinctively avoided delving deeper.

Zhao Chao’an and Jiang Liuyan both noticed her hesitation, the faint resistance hidden beneath her detached expression. After exchanging a glance, Zhao Chao’an took the initiative. “Would you like to tell us about it?”

Ying Buran paused, then nodded. She didn’t want her mother to worry any longer. “Yes, I would.”

“Then would you mind if I narrated? I might have a more detailed understanding, since you haven’t fully recovered yet,” Zhao Chao’an said softly, stepping behind Ying Buran.

Ying Buran lowered her head, considering the offer. Zhao Chao’an did indeed know more. “Alright, thank you for taking the trouble.”

Jiang Liuyan frowned deeply as she listened to their exchange, turning to Zhao Chao’an. “Not fully recovered? What happened before? I thought we had an agreement.”

Zhao Chao’an, if she had possessed a physical body, would have broken into a cold sweat under Jiang Liuyan’s intense gaze. She hurriedly explained, “Of course, of course! Let me explain exactly what happened back then.”

As she spoke, Zhao Chao’an deliberately covered Ying Buran’s ears, temporarily sealing her hearing with ghostly energy.

She recounted the entire sequence of events as concisely, accurately, and completely as possible. Jiang Liuyan’s brow relaxed slightly upon hearing the explanation, though the oppressive aura around her remained unchanged.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Liuyan shifted her posture. Noticing Zhao Chao’an’s nervousness, she softened her tone, saying, “I think I understand what happened now. I was too hasty earlier and my attitude was poor. Please forgive me.”

Zhao Chao’an breathed a sigh of relief, released Ying Buran’s ears, and waved her hand dismissively. “Ahem, no worries, no worries! I understand completely. I’d react the same way in your shoes.”

In fact, Jiang Liuyan had been relatively mild. If it were her, she might have strung the person up and interrogated them.

Ying Buran, sensing the renewed vitality in Zhao Chao’an’s voice, glanced at her curiously. In her memory, this was the first time Zhao Chao’an had ever acted with such… caution?

Jiang Liuyan couldn’t quite grasp Ying Buran’s strange focus, so she simply continued thinking along the lines of their previous conversation. After organizing her thoughts, she said, “So the face behind the mask is the Ghost Mask? No wonder you need to wear it… Take this too. This bracelet can help conceal your aura.”

She removed one of the bracelets from her wrist and handed it to Ying Buran.

Ying Buran accepted it with a hint of surprise and slipped it onto her wrist. She felt something like a thin film encircle her before vanishing completely.

“Okay, thank you, Mom,” Ying Buran said with a smile, looking up. This felt like something on the same level as her mask.

Jiang Liuyan breathed a sigh of relief as Ying Buran accepted the bracelet. Smiling, she ruffled her daughter’s hair, but her expression sobered slightly as she glanced at the mask. “I’ll find a way to help you fully recover. Since there’s no one else here, could you take off the mask and let me see the extent of the damage?”

This time, Ying Buran didn’t hesitate. She nodded and removed the mask. “Okay.”

Even though Jiang Liuyan had mentally prepared herself, the sight still startled her. A wave of heartache washed over her.

Jiang Liuyan reached out to touch the half-exposed Ghost Mask, but the moment her fingers made contact, she was burned.

It was Ghostfire, burning within Ying Buran’s body.

Seeing Jiang Liuyan recoil sharply, her hand slightly scorched, Ying Buran startled. She instinctively grabbed Jiang Liuyan’s hand and asked anxiously, “Are you alright?”

Jiang Liuyan shook her head, withdrawing her hand only after Ying Buran had finished examining it. “I’m fine, just a minor burn. I didn’t expect that. How are you feeling? Any discomfort?”

Ying Buran focused intently, then shook her head. “No, nothing. Just a slight warmth on this side.”

She had grown so accustomed to the sensation that she might have forgotten about it entirely if her mother hadn’t asked.

“As long as you’re okay.” Jiang Liuyan sighed in relief, reassured that Ying Buran wasn’t forcing herself to endure.

Zhao Chao’an seized the opportunity to curry favor, interjecting, “Let me take a look. The flames on A’Ran’s face are likely Ghostfire. Contact can easily corrupt ordinary people.”

Ying Buran nodded in agreement. “Yes, please check. It would ease my mind to confirm.”

Jiang Liuyan initially wanted to decline, but seeing Ying Buran’s insistence, she immediately relented. “…Alright.”

Zhao Chao’an carefully examined Jiang Liuyan’s hand under Ying Buran’s worried gaze. Fortunately, the contact area was small, and Jiang Liuyan’s cultivation was high, leaving only a trace of residual ghostly energy.

Their mother-daughter responses are eerily similar, as if they were carved from the same mold.

“It’s nothing serious,” Zhao Chao’an assured them. “I’ve already removed the ghostly energy. It will heal quickly. A’Ran, put your mask back on. Prolonged exposure will cause the ghostly energy to leak out, which isn’t good for you.”

Although the bracelet could also provide protection, the mask was more effective. Ying Buran still struggled to control the ghostly energy, so caution was paramount.

Ying Buran, now under the watchful eyes of both women, obediently donned the mask. As expected, the faint trace of ghostly energy he had been sensing vanished instantly.

“This mask is no ordinary artifact,” Jiang Liuyan observed. “It’s likely even more powerful than my bracelet, which is already a rare quasi-divine treasure.”

Ying Buran straightened the mask and nodded in agreement. “Yes, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Evolution Sect gave it to me as compensation.”

Having some knowledge of Shen Cangwu’s actions, Jiang Liuyan nodded approvingly. “So it was her. She certainly owes you compensation. What’s her current attitude?”

She turned to Zhao Chao’an, sensing that Zhao Chao’an had more insight into this matter.

Zhao Chao’an shrugged. “She killed the Heavenly Evolution Sect’s Ancestor, formed an alliance with me, and suggested I come here to investigate.”

Jiang Liuyan had a rough idea of the Heavenly Evolution Sect’s methods. “I understand. It’s getting late. Let me show you to your rooms.”

Afterward, Zhao Chao’an reverted to her Blackbird form and nestled in Ying Buran’s arms. Jiang Liuyan had prepared rooms for the two of them right next to her own, in the most heavily guarded part of the residence.

Once they were settled, Jiang Liuyan excused herself to attend to official duties. Ying Buran lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Zhao Chao’an hopped closer to Ying Buran and tilted her head. “Can’t sleep?”

Ying Buran nodded, then rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. “A little. So much happened today, my thoughts are a mess.”

Zhao Chao’an scratched her head, then suddenly brightened. “How about we chat? There’s nothing pressing tomorrow, so we can sleep in. According to your mother, the crisis in Chasing Wind City is mostly resolved. They would have survived even without us. Still, our trip wasn’t a waste—at least we found your bl00d relatives.”

Ying Buran gave a muffled reply, showing little reaction: “Mm.”

Then, she turned to Zhao Chao’an, her curiosity piqued. “Speaking of which, do you even remember what your mother was like?”

Zhao Chao’an tilted her head in thought for a moment before shaking her head. “I’ve long forgotten. I’ve been in the Sect since I was old enough to remember, and then I defected, was killed and became a Ghost, and eventually became the Ghost King. It’s been too long.”

“I see,” Ying Buran nodded, then rolled over to face the ceiling, staring blankly upward. “I feel like I don’t even know what I’m feeling right now…”

Zhao Chao’an leaped onto her chest and lay down. “What do you mean?”

“I feel like I should be happy to have found my mother, but there’s this other emotion… I just can’t put my finger on what it is.” Ying Buran gazed vacantly at the ceiling, as if she could grasp something intangible, yet nothing came into focus.

She had never experienced such a feeling before.

Zhao Chao’an racked her brains, scratching her head with a paw as she speculated, “Hmm… maybe she’s just not used to it yet? After all, it was so sudden. I can feel that she genuinely cares for you and truly loves you, and you clearly care deeply for her too.”

“If we can’t understand it from one angle, let’s try another. Do you hate her?”

Ying Buran immediately shook her head. “Of course not! I’m so happy to have finally reunited with her.”

Zhao Chao’an hopped closer, nuzzling against Ying Buran as she reassured her, “See? The answer is obvious then. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Just let things unfold naturally.”

Ying Buran considered this. Perhaps they really had just been separated for too long. “Maybe you’re right? Maybe in time, we can learn to act like a normal mother and daughter?”

Zhao Chao’an nodded firmly, her voice earnest and resolute. “Absolutely. It will happen.”