Dreams of the Ancient Mountain: The Cat's Masquerade | Chapter 219 | Under the Mask | Novela.app

The men burst into raucous laughter. Bi Yao was so incensed she slammed her wine jar down. "You insolent rogue! How dare you humiliate my lady like this!" He Ruo remained unruffled, replying with a playful grin, "I’d be more than willing to let you take your lady’s place in this 'humiliation,' but I fear that while I can carry her, I might not be able to shoulder you." He was mocking Bi Yao for being heavier than me. It was true; she had a cute, round face and, being a martial artist, her muscles were far more developed than mine. I quickly grabbed Bi Yao just as she was about to charge at him with fists flying. I shook my head and said calmly, "If the Young Master has spoken, how could I refuse?" I walked toward the stone drum. Just as I was about to sit, He Ruo tied a brocade cushion onto it, claiming with a smirk that the stone was hard and cold and he feared I would be chilled. In that fleeting moment, I caught sight of him tucking a handkerchief into the layers of the cushion. Understanding his intent, I sat down gracefully. He first invited Liu Yuan to try. Liu Yuan crouched before me and managed to lift the weight, but it was clearly his absolute limit; he set it down before he could even raise it past his chest. He Ruo rolled up his sleeves with a comical, exaggerated flourish and approached. He made a show of reaching for the drum’s handles but then pulled back. He snatched the velvet lute cover from the fuming Bi Yao, meticulously wrapped the instrument, and placed it in my arms. He even stepped back to admire the arrangement, nodding in approval. "A most beautiful pose. Sit steady now, my lady; don't let that Tang-dynasty lute fall and break." Only then did he seriously stoop down, lifting both me and the stone drum together, and began to pace slowly around the hall. Naturally, he had to look up to see me. His eyes had shed their previous flighty shimmer, becoming cold and calm. Knowing his meaning, I had already pulled the handkerchief from beneath the cushion. I also realized he must have hidden something inside the lute cover when he wrapped it—likely instructions for my next move. That cold gaze vanished in a flash, hidden once more behind a mask of cynical debauchery. Before setting me down, he asked with a grin, "Sister, how much do you weigh? Not to be offensive, but it concerns tens of millions in profit!" This was, of course, a joke; it had already been stated that the discount applied to anything under three thousand pounds. With this display, the Eight Great Kings truly began to look at this seemingly frail character with new respect. Thunderous applause erupted. I returned to my seat beside Liu Yuan. Finding an opportunity, I feigned weakness and leaned into his embrace, pressing a *Gu* contained within the handkerchief into his body. This *Gu* was microscopic, smaller than half a grain of rice; it dissolved upon contact with flesh but was a poison of the highest order. Once the Mother Gu was crushed, the victim would die instantly. Thus, Yanfeng Stronghold was now within our grasp. I had expected to serve Liu Yuan tonight, but when the banquet dispersed, he laughed and pushed me into He Ruo’s arms. "A beauty for the brave warrior! I shall yield her to my younger brother tonight!" As expected, he remained cautious, unwilling to let a woman of unknown origin get close to him in private. He Ruo laughed heartily, grabbed my hand, and began to lead me away. He didn't even care when his cloak slipped off, appearing utterly impatient. A-Hong hurriedly picked it up and chased after us, drawing another round of laughter from the crowd. The moment the door closed behind us, He Ruo dropped my hand. With a wave of his sleeve, he set a restriction across the room and sat down at the table. His feigned expression vanished, replaced by a sharp, frost-cold aura that finally matched his handsome, elegant face. In truth, when he had held my hand earlier, it had been through the handkerchief; there had been no skin-to-skin contact. I stood silently for a moment, hearing Bi Yao run up to the door. Half-furious and half-sobbing, she pounded heavily on the wood. "You, surnamed He, open up! You... you aren't allowed to... *waah*... Miss! Miss!" She was uneducated and didn't even know that "He Ruo" was a compound surname, but her worry was genuine. It softened my heart. I leaned against the door and said softly, "Good sister, do not fear. Are you holding the lute?" "Sister!" she asked anxiously. "What is to become of you..." "Give me the lute." At that moment, He Ruo Bi stood up and cracked the door open just enough to take the instrument, while simultaneously blocking Bi Yao from entering. His voice was oily and suggestive, but his eyes remained icy. "You wish to join your lady inside? You are most welcome!" Bi Yao froze. Though she understood his meaning, she still gave him a huffing glare before crossing her arms and sitting down right outside the door. He handed the lute to me without a word and turned back to the table. Only then did I realize he had been tending to a wound. His left sleeve was rolled up, revealing most of his forearm; the flesh was necrotic, the rot so deep the bone was visible. The bandages had been removed, leaving only a blood-soaked tourniquet tied around his arm. It turned out he had been injured all along, which was why A-Hong had insisted he not drink and tried to exert strength in his stead. The exertion had caused the wound to tear open. After sitting, he picked up a small knife from the table and began to meticulously scrape away the dead flesh. He didn't even flinch; he was clearly accustomed to this. The cough was real, though—he coughed once or twice as he worked—but I doubted it was a "condition from the womb." Holding the lute, I didn't know what to say to him. Part of it was the fear of eavesdroppers, but mostly it was because the sight was so jarring; the contrast between his current state and his public persona was too vast. I wasn't sure if I should offer to help. I had no training in such matters and likely couldn't assist anyway. Ultimately, I decided to focus on our mission. I unwrapped the lute cover and found an object inside. It wasn't written instructions, but a small pouch containing an insect—the Mother Gu. There was no need to take it out; crushing it through the pouch would suffice. I understood his intent: he was handing the power of life and death over Liu Yuan entirely to me, perhaps to ensure my safety while I was in close contact with the bandit chief. Outside the window, summer insects chirped incessantly. Inside, the only sound was the rasp of He Ruo Bi scraping his bone and the rustle of him applying dressings. I wiped the lute for a while, wanting to play something, but I worried that music would be inappropriate for what we were supposed to be doing and might expose us. So, I simply sat there, watching him treat his injury. When he finished, he cleared the table with a few swift motions. Noticing me watching him, he gave a curt nod. "If you are tired, sleep. I have no need for the bed." I shook my head. "Please tell me, Young Master, what is required of me next?" "Once you are in his room, I may need you to plant certain items," he said. "The rest is yet to be determined. Look after yourself." These two sentences were devoid of any lewd or teasing tone; they were strictly professional. Only the words "look after yourself" carried a hint of concern, though even that was lukewarm. Having spoken, he took one end of a new bandage in his teeth and deftly wrapped his arm. I memorized his movements, thinking that if I encountered such a situation again, I might be able to help. Once the wound was dressed, he put his arm guard back on. Seeing it, I froze. That silk-thin bracer looked incredibly familiar... it was... it was the man from last month... One night a month ago, I had returned to the pavilion unusually early, around the third watch. Since that was usually my busiest time, I couldn't sleep and had gotten up to practice the lute. Someone had tumbled through the window, bathed in moonlight and blood. His right sleeve was shredded, and he had tied it hastily around his waist to staunch the bleeding. It was then that I had seen the arm guard. He had been wearing a special veil that blurred his features, but he had produced the Temple's jade token. He needed a place to hide from a powerful enemy. I hadn't had time to ask how he knew my identity; I had hurriedly stuffed him into a wardrobe. Bi Yao and I had frantically scrubbed the blood from the floor and lit heavy incense to mask the faint metallic scent. I didn't know who he was hiding from. Because I had stayed in the outer room to handle any searchers, I didn't even know when he had left. The next morning, when we opened the wardrobe, Bi Yao had stomped her foot in a rage. Half of my clothes were ruined, soaked through with blood. They were expensive fabrics, and even if they had been common cotton, they could never be cleaned. I, however, had only frowned, wondering if someone with such a heavy injury could still move freely. Then I thought that even if we were both secret agents, he was a stranger whose name I didn't even know. Such injuries and deaths happened every day in the Temple; there was no reason to dwell on it. To my surprise, three days later, someone delivered a chest of ready-made clothes. They were all seasonal, fashionable, and made of exquisite material. Bi Yao’s mood had improved instantly. She had sifted through them happily, noting, "These are perfect for summer. You have to admit, this person has excellent taste!" We had thought of those young lords who occasionally sent dresses, but they usually chose garish reds, purples, or bright pinks. None had this person’s refined sense of color and coordination. Having only seen me briefly, he had managed to select a chest of clothes that perfectly matched my features, figure, and temperament. He truly understood women. Thinking of this, I felt a twinge of embarrassment. As luck would have it, I was wearing the most expensive set he had sent. I wondered if he had recognized it from the start... I decided to speak. "It was you," I said with a smile. "Why are you injured again? Is the previous wound not healed?" His expression didn't change, but he admitted it. "It is fine. Thank you for your help and your concern, Miss. Are the clothes to your liking?" I looked down and lifted a sleeve, teasing him. "They make the bandits want to kidnap me, so yes, I like them very much." He gave a faint smile. "That is not due to the clothing." Earlier at the banquet, his overt flirtation had only made me feel disgusted and amused. Now, this plain, emotionless compliment made my heart skip a beat. I wanted to chat more, but he had already lowered his head to read a book. He looked deeply immersed, not feigning it to be aloof. It made me feel as though I were less interesting than the book. The moment that absurd thought surfaced, I laughed at myself for being bored. If he wanted to find his "beauty as fair as jade" within the pages of a book, what did it have to do with me? He read in silence for a while before seemingly remembering I was in the room. He stood up with the book in hand and dragged a thick screen between the bed and the small table, signaling that I should sleep while he read. Not once did his gaze fall upon me. I was utterly piqued. Since my debut, when had I ever been so neglected? It was supposed to be me who ignored others! But I could only seethe in silence. I washed up, removed my makeup, tossed my clothes onto the rack by the bed, and went to sleep in a fit of annoyance. When I woke the next morning, I was still irritated. I brooded for a while before realizing Bi Yao was sleeping beside me. It turned out that to prove he wouldn't touch me, he had let Bi Yao in to sleep as well. The girl was likely dreaming of a feast, as she was smiling and grinding her teeth in her sleep... As I turned over, he heard that I was awake. From behind the screen, he said, "Wake Bi Yao and have her help you wash. Give me one of your belongings—anything, as long as it's noticeable." This was, of course, to prove our "relationship" to the others—a "token of affection" to show off. He couldn't have heard Bi Yao's name at the banquet; he must have asked her when he let her in last night. He would rather ask a servant's name than look at me. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I reached under my pillow, pulled out a gold hairpin, and threw it blindly at him, not caring if it hit him. He caught it steadily in mid-air, unoffended. He instructed Bi Yao to move the screen back to its original place and then left. In the sunlight and before others, He Ruo Bi returned to his profligate, mischievous act. He had pinned that gold hairpin—which wasn't meant for such display—diagonally across his chest. He didn't seem to care that it pierced his clothes or ruined the precious fabric. He spent his time on the mountain teasing the animals and boasting with the bandit kings. Whenever he saw me, he would flirt, and thinking of his true self only made me angrier. Outwardly, I acted shy and gentle, but the moment we were alone, I would lash out with cold sarcasm. He, however, became like a mute gourd, pretending not to hear and never responding. After three or five days of this charade, Liu Yuan finally lost his patience and summoned me to his room. Two days later, He Ruo Bi gave me a letter. It was a letter written by the second-in-command to the Governor of Suizhou, dated three months ago—exactly when Liu Yuan’s gang was first preparing their uprising. *** Glossary Table: