The sound of rushing water was punctuated by a faint, uncertain patter of footsteps. Someone had stopped not far from the shore, pacing back and forth in agitation.
Chengyu’s whispered words cut off abruptly, her pale gray eyes shifting slightly.
"I thought those attending this Sword Appreciation Assembly would at least possess some semblance of etiquette and restraint. Who knew they would be so impatient?"
Qiu Ling’s gaze drifted behind her. After a moment of confirmation, he spoke truthfully.
"He is likely looking for you, Senior Sister."
He had been listening intently to her information just now. Now that he had withdrawn from the conversation, his gaze instinctively flickered toward the spot below the cliff where the petite woman stood. He discovered that, at some point, she had been surrounded by three or five young male disciples, while Qi Gu was nowhere to be seen.
Though he knew no one would dare strike rashly under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he could not suppress the surge of worry and anxiety in his heart. He spoke quickly.
"My thanks for today, Senior Sister. We shall speak again—"
Before he could finish, Chengyu grabbed him.
"Help me see. Who is it?"
The woman’s hands were extraordinary; he could not break her grip. After a moment, he could only say helplessly, "It is Young Master Cang of the Lingxiao Sect."
Chengyu’s brow furrowed.
"I didn't see this many people in the entirety of last year, yet today I find myself cornered and intercepted. Had I known, I never would have agreed to your request."
Qiu Ling paused, kindly helping her recall. "Actually, Young Master Cang has visited Kunxu many times. You once said you admired him somewhat..."
"I admired him before because I thought he was a man of few words. Who knew that once he saw me, he would become so talkative and unpleasant?" As Chengyu spoke, she suddenly looked up at him. "I have worked hard for you, San-lang. How about you help me in return?"
Before Qiu Ling could react, the woman swiftly pulled the knot on the bundle of bamboo rafts.
The small rafts instantly scattered. Chengyu tapped her toes, using the momentum to fly toward the turbulent waterfall. In the blink of an eye, she vanished into the mist, leaving her junior brother behind with soaked shoes. No sooner had he steadied himself on the bank than he was met by the green-eyed Young Master Cang.
"It has been a long time. It seems Lord Duanyu’s light-body technique has improved considerably."
Chengyu ranked second in the Kunxu Sect, with only one senior brother above her. She appeared as cold and steady as Lord Duanyu, but in truth, she had always been willful. Helping her junior brother in private was willful; pushing him out to take the blow just now out of a moment’s irritation was also willful. Which of the fellow disciples in the sect had not endured her "tests"?
Qiu Ling sighed inwardly. When he turned around, he had already donned his usual expression of cold detachment.
"I trust you have been well, Young Master Cang."
Cang Jiu of the Lingxiao Sect was a handsome man with sharp brows and bright eyes. However, his brow carried a thorn, his romantic pursuits were unsuccessful, and his temper was far from small. Even his white robes could not suppress the fire within him; the emotions deep in his eyes looked as though they might burn right out of their sockets at any moment.
"They say the colder a man looks, the more he enjoys attracting peach blossoms. Seeing you today, it truly is so. Since Lord Duanyu brought a fair lady along, you should keep your distance from Miss Chengyu. Even between fellow disciples, one must avoid suspicion."
His words were quite foul, yet they seemed to cause no ripple in the other man’s ears.
Qiu Ling merely nodded calmly, completely ignoring the sarcasm in Cang Jiu’s words. He stepped back a few paces, preparing to take his leave.
"My senior sister likely had urgent business, which is why she left in such haste. I will certainly have her catch up with Young Master Cang next time. I have matters to attend to, so I shall—"
But he had clearly underestimated the sensitivity of a jealous heart. Before he could finish, the other man blocked his path.
"How things stand between Chengyu and me—since when is it your place to interfere?" The man narrowed his eyes and reminded him rudely, "Has Lord Duanyu forgotten? You still have a marriage engagement in this Jiugao City."
The moment the disciplined and polite man heard the word "marriage," his eyes, usually devoid of much emotion, finally changed. His voice turned cold.
"The marriage between the Qiu and Su families has been called off. Young Master Cang would do well to watch his words in the future and listen less to hearsay, lest he cause misunderstandings for those who do not know the truth."
"Misunderstanding? I thought you never cared for these matters of men and women. It turns out you were just playing dumb. Are all those women blinded by your appearance, happening to like this honest and dull act of yours?"
Qiu Ling pursed his lips, frost seemingly congealing between his brows.
If this were a banquet in the past, he could simply maintain a distance of a thousand miles. Those guests who came to probe and chat would, at most, pester him for a few sentences. Seeing that he was impervious to both soft and hard approaches, most would take him for a block of wood, offer a few sneers, and depart.
But those born of the martial world lived by the rule of the blade; they held no respect for the push-and-pull of officialdom. The man before him was the current head disciple of the Lingxiao Sect and the sole successor of the Moon-Chasing Footwork. He could usually maintain his dignity, but at his core, he was still a proud, hot-blooded youth. Since he had started this, he would not let it go easily.
The Sword Appreciation Assembly saw conflicts every year, and the years where blood was shed were too many to count. Since Qiu Ling had chosen to board the island, he had no intention of avoiding trouble. But his mind was not here right now, and he certainly did not want to involve Qin Jiuye in the trouble he had attracted. That was why he had endured until now.
Qiu Ling looked up, a hint of killing intent appearing in his eyes.
"The grand show has not yet begun, and the various Sect Masters have not yet taken the stage. As juniors, we should keep to our place. Though the Kunxu Sect has never been sticklers for such things, I ask that Young Master Cang does not lose the face of the Lingxiao Sect due to a moment of impulse."
Cang Jiu snorted coldly, his stance already shifting.
"Since when has the face of my Lingxiao Sect been earned through silent endurance?"
***
A hundred paces away, beneath the stone cliff, another confrontation had already silently unfolded.
Qin Jiuye looked around, her gaze sweeping over the ill-intentioned faces. A phrase suddenly popped into her mind.
*To bully the few with the many is to win without honor; is that not beneath a hero?*
This was a line Tang Shenyan loved most when he held court. Whenever he spoke of a hero about to face a hundred foes alone, he would mention this. The martial travelers likely had similar experiences; every time they heard it, they would cheer and toss a few copper coins.
Qin Jiuye had coveted this line for a long time, but she had the heart of a thief without the courage. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
And even if she said it now, it would be useless. Those young disciples, strong as oxen and fierce as tigers, had already swarmed forward. Their tall, sturdy bodies formed a wall, completely isolating her from the outside world.
"Lord Duanyu has never liked martial gatherings. Perhaps he looks down on us crude folk who brandish blades and sticks, his heart set only on his official seal and career. I wonder what wind blew him here in person today? Why don't you enlighten us?"
Qin Jiuye’s eyes darted, trying to see Qiu Ling’s situation through the gaps in the "human wall," but to no avail. As for Qi Gu, who was supposed to be standing with her, she had taken the opportunity to grease her soles and slip away the moment their attention turned to Qin Jiuye.
She cursed inwardly and focused her mind, carefully dealing with the situation at hand.
The opposition was aggressive and blatant, but Qin Jiuye had made up her mind: as long as they didn't drop all pretenses, she would use the most "despicable" means to win this battle.
Thinking of this, she replied very politely.
"Naturally, it is the same as all of you—merely to witness the grace of the Hidden Edge being unsheathed."
As soon as Qin Jiuye finished, she felt her voice echo within the human wall. After a long moment, a strange laugh came from in front of her.
"The Hidden Edge unsheathed? You certainly have a clever tongue. Do you know what the prize for this year’s assembly is?"
Of course she didn't know.
But wasn't this the perfect chance to find out?
Qin Jiuye lowered her eyes, hooked a finger to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, and sighed performatively. Then, in a tone that suggested she had seen it all and cared little for life or death, she whispered:
"Does it matter what it is? It’s the same every year. I’m a bit tired of looking at it. Are you all not bored yet?"
The moment she spoke, she felt the atmosphere around her shift.
The young disciples clearly hadn't expected her change in attitude. They instantly went from the aggressors to the defensive, unsure of how to respond for a moment. Their momentum was halved.
However, how could sons of the martial world easily let a petite woman get the better of them? They did not fear direct conflict; they only grew more courageous with setbacks. Yet, because of this, they could not escape the goading method. The more the opponent appeared indifferent, the more they rushed to prove themselves.
Sure enough, after only a moment, one of the disciples couldn't help but retort.
"The Azure Blade has appeared; naturally, this is different from the past. Besides, the Villa Master’s actions always have deep meaning. How could it be as simple as unveiling and appreciating a blade?"
*The Azure Blade?*
Qin Jiuye’s heart stirred. Those two words felt exceptionally familiar.
Back when she and Old Dog Du were trapped in the Listening Wind Hall, Tang Shenyan seemed to have mentioned it casually at the table, saying it was a world-renowned left-handed blade. But besides that, she seemed to have heard someone else mention the name elsewhere...
She fell silent for a moment. The young disciple, having finished his outburst, realized he had been tricked. His face immediately showed a hint of fury.
"You dare deceive me?"
As he spoke, he took a step forward. Qin Jiuye felt as though a wall was about to collapse onto her, and she instinctively wanted to retreat.
She was a mere village doctor. In past years, she had to be on high alert just to attend the Qingyang Market. Stepping into this martial gathering on a lonely island was like a sheep entering a wolf pack; it would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid at all.
However, after witnessing the moody Wang Xiao and the half-demon, half-wraith Zhu Fuxue, these chirping little chicks before her were nothing in her eyes.
In terms of martial arts, she wasn't even a ten-thousandth of these people. But she was a shopkeeper who had truly sat in a village clinic for five years. What kind of street thugs or troublesome brats had she not seen? During the most chaotic times at Guoran Pavilion, she had sat alone on that broken bench and faced more than ten aunts, uncles, and grandmothers at once. Not a single coin was missing from the accounts, not a mace of medicine was wrong, and not a single harsh word was left unsaid.
Her retreating step faltered. Qin Jiuye lowered her eyes and spoke nonchalantly.
"If you lose your temper again, I fear you won't leave this Qionghu Island alive tonight."
Who in Dingweng Village didn't know? Shopkeeper Qin of Guoran Pavilion was always cautious and disliked offending people. She would bend her waist for less than five pecks of rice. When had she ever had the courage to threaten others?
But the people of Dingweng Village also had to admit that within a hundred miles, Shopkeeper Qin was the most diligent and eager to learn.
Over the past days, Qin Jiuye had seen no shortage of powerful figures in this martial world. She had danced on the edge of blades and navigated between them repeatedly, receiving "personal instruction" from those few. That sentence just now was a blend of three parts of Su Muzhi’s imperiousness and five parts of Zhu Fuxue’s demonic elegance, with a final two parts of the moody Wang Xiao added for good measure. Though her voice wasn't loud, it caused the young disciple before her to instantly change color.
In yesterday’s competition on Lake Lixin, to prevent being poisoned by others, he had swallowed three of his master’s Flowing Gold Pills. He was practically immune to all poisons; it was impossible for him to be affected easily. Could it be... the person before her had already placed some strange poison on him during his breathing, and he hadn't noticed at all?
Poison masters with such hidden techniques were few and far between in the martial world. He didn't believe he was so unlucky as to stumble while provoking someone, but he raised a finger and barked:
"You... what nonsense are you talking..."
"Find a mirror and look at your eyes and complexion. Whether I am talking nonsense, you know in your heart." The petite woman lazily lifted her eyelids, her gaze sweeping over the others in turn. The light flickering in her eyes made them dare not underestimate her. "And this brother here, do you feel a tightness in your chest and abdomen, a dull pain between your ribs? It’s worse when lying down, relieved when sitting, and becomes more pronounced after nightfall? The one to your left suffers from persistent coughing and wheezing, with red eyes and a sore throat—both lungs and stomach are cold. And this other one has a headache and facial swelling, occasionally feeling feverish but without sweat. Am I correct?"
As soon as she spoke, the surroundings fell into a dead silence.
The very hairs on the young disciples’ heads seemed to freeze. Only their pupils trembled uncontrollably as they stared at the woman before them in shock and uncertainty.
The woman’s appearance was ordinary. She didn't appear to be carrying any weapons, and her aura was chaotic and weak, not like someone who practiced internal cultivation.
But if that were the case, how could she accurately diagnose their conditions with a single breath?
They racked their brains but couldn't figure it out. After a long time, the white-robed disciple in the lead finally steadied his mind and spoke in a low voice.
"The gold-and-jade competition yesterday... was the lady also present? But how did I not notice..."
From "you" to "lady," it truly wasn't easy. As for yesterday... of course she was present. She just wasn't in the "inner circle," but the "outer circle."
Her memory for people wasn't as good as Old Tang’s, but she had a photographic memory for anything related to medicine. Yesterday on Fish-Hanging Shoal, though she was observing every move of Teng Hu, she remembered every disciple he handled and every treatment he performed. Combined with her daily experience in visual diagnosis, she had produced that assessment.
For instance, the aggressive leader was originally just suffering from flesh wounds. The problem was that he had greedily taken too many Flowing Gold Pills. In moderation, they could clear toxins, but in excess, they damaged the liver meridian, causing blood toxins to accumulate. Once it flared up, there was no cure. As for the two beside him, one had been struck in the chest and abdomen in the arena—he likely had broken ribs without knowing it. The other had accidentally fallen into the lake during the fight and swallowed some water; naturally, his throat and lungs would be uncomfortable today. As for the last one, he likely hadn't paid attention to the hygiene of his living quarters on the way to Jiugao and caught a warm malaria. She had seen many such cases while visiting villages; a single glance was enough to know.
Qin Jiuye’s expression remained indifferent. She clicked her tongue and shook a finger enigmatically.
"Such a small matter—why would I need to investigate closely? One look is enough."
Her words made the young disciples even more flustered.
They had practiced martial arts since childhood, their heads filled only with the heights of martial skill. They never would have imagined that Lord Duanyu would bring a doctor to the assembly. They instinctively felt that only someone whose internal cultivation had reached a transcendent state, with five senses far exceeding ordinary people, could detect breathing or even a heartbeat from several paces away to judge the injuries left from yesterday’s fight.
Could she be a descendant of some secluded mysterious sect or strange lineage? When had such a figure appeared in the martial world without them hearing a word?
Seeing the group turn from fighting cocks into a row of silent gourds, Qin Jiuye suppressed the urge to laugh out loud and "kindly" offered some comfort.
"Every man has his strengths and weaknesses. There is no need for alarm. Just maintain a heart of humility and awe."
Everything she had said was, in the end, just common medical theory. It couldn't fool an old fox like Wang Xiao, but it was enough to scare these "rising stars" who hadn't tasted much of the martial world’s blades.
These people weren't inherently evil, but they had clearly been pampered by their respective sect masters. They looked majestic, but in truth, they were lazy and ignorant of the world. They only knew black and white, right and wrong, victory and defeat. They knew nothing of human suffering. When things happened, besides bringing out their masters to back them up, they could only shout and brandish their weapons.
Without the blades in their hands, they were actually inferior to the cowherd boy at the entrance of Dingweng Village. That boy had been working the fields alone since he was nine. His skills in herding and farming were self-taught, and he never bullied the old shepherd next door just because he was young and strong, nor did he form gangs to act tough.
*A fine jade vessel without a purpose; beneath the fair skin, naught but a frame of folly.*
Qin Jiuye reached a conclusion in her heart. Mimicking Old Dog Du’s manner, she found the right moment to cup her fists.
"I have said much, and have already revealed too many heavenly secrets. If you have no other business, I shall take my leave."
After she finished, she ignored their faces—which were shifting between black, red, blue, and green—and walked toward the water on her own.
She understood that verbal suppression was only a temporary measure. She wasn't a genuine martial expert. Once those fools came to their senses, she would be unable to escape. Leaving quickly was the best strategy.
One step, two steps, three steps... ten steps.
Qin Jiuye’s pace grew faster as her eyes searched the water for Qiu Ling. The next moment, she heard the sound of wind rushing behind her and sighed inwardly.
Knowing she had no martial footwork to rely on, she didn't even bother turning around. Steeling herself, she stepped onto the bamboo raft closest to the shore. Unexpectedly, the sound behind her was relentless, following her almost instantly. Upon landing, the person deliberately used their momentum to stomp hard on one end of the raft.
The raft beneath her feet bucked violently. Qin Jiuye felt like a bean being tossed in a large ladle, about to fly into the air.
In that split second, an instinct suddenly woke within her. Just before she was about to take flight, the soles of her feet suddenly exerted force.
Though she hadn't exactly grown up by the water, she had often run boats with Qin Sanyou. She was far too familiar with the feel of a bamboo raft. She actually managed to stand firm and steady.
The young disciple who had tried to sabotage her clearly hadn't expected this frail woman’s lower body to be so stable. He failed to catch himself and nearly tumbled into the water. His posture was already clumsy, and sensing the mocking gazes of the others on the shore, he could no longer save face. His aura shifted instantly, a murderous light appearing in his eyes.
"I heard that the one beside Lord Duanyu should be a master of the blade. Having the honor of meeting you today, why don't you let me see for myself?"
As he spoke, he actually drew his sword and charged straight at Qin Jiuye.
When words failed, he resorted to underhanded tricks; when those failed, he drew his weapon. This was truly bullying.
And what "master of the blade"? She didn't understand a single word of it!
Qin Jiuye felt her waist in despair. However, she didn't even have a small knife for trimming nails. Even if she threw her medicine bag, setting aside whether it would be useful, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
That bag contained precious, life-saving medicines! She usually couldn't bear to bring them out!
The stingy shopkeeper valued money over life. Just as she was about to be overturned by the sword, a green figure suddenly swept through the air. A sword parried the young disciple’s move, and an arm swept the woman off the raft, bringing her to the opposite bank in an instant.
Qin Jiuye didn't know what light-body technique was, but after experiencing being carried by Jiang Xin'er and Li Qiao, she had actually grown somewhat accustomed to being flown around by these martial artists. Her feet were in the air, but her heart was not in chaos; she even had the energy to observe the situation.
Qiu Ling had rushed to her side to save her. He had forcibly broken through Young Master Cang’s footwork to get here. Now, the latter was pursuing him relentlessly, standing with the other young disciples, instantly forming a pincer movement.
Qin Jiuye didn't know that Young Master Cang, but seeing him look like a defeated peacock, his pursuit was likely related to Qiu Ling’s ethereal senior sister.
While she understood the situation, the hot-headed youths were unable to stop themselves, looking as though they would start a war on the spot. The other sects around them remained in their places, but they had already cast their gazes over to enjoy the show.
The arrow was on the string; it had to be fired.
If they didn't fight now, they would only be laughed at.
Qiu Ling’s long, powerful hand was already on his sword hilt, looking as though he was about to draw it. The next moment, a thin hand gently pulled his arm.
His movement faltered, and his hand stopped. He turned a questioning gaze toward the woman beside him, only to see that she wasn't looking at him. She merely raised a trembling finger, pointing randomly at the group opposite them, and cried out in a pinched voice:
"San-lang, they’re bullying me!"
As the woman’s voice landed, the last trace of human sound by the floating bridge vanished completely. For a time, only the sound of the rushing water could be heard.
In truth, everyone had been waiting for a show since the beginning. It was just that no one expected the show to be *this* kind.
Qin Jiuye felt a wave of nausea after forcing those words out. She barely maintained her expression, though the corners of her mouth were twitching.
If it weren't for the emergency, she wouldn't have used such "strong medicine." But "heavy doses cure severe illnesses," and the effect was significant.
To the young disciples, they had taken advantage of Qiu Ling’s absence to pick on her. Now, her cry confirmed her relationship with Lord Duanyu. Whether it was the Qingzhong Mountain Academy backed by the imperial court or the notoriously protective Kunxu Sect, neither was an easy target to offend. They had come to probe her background, not to truly escalate things to an uncontrollable state. It was time to end it.
And for Young Master Cang, the most important thing was to figure out the relationship between Qiu Ling and his beloved. Martial rumors said Lord Duanyu was impartial and stayed away from women. He had worried the man had already taken advantage of his position, which was why he had no other "peach blossoms" outside. But seeing now that the man was already tied down by another woman, he naturally wouldn't have the leisure to seduce his cold-faced beauty.
No need for blades or spears; just a short sentence could "repel the enemy for a thousand miles." Although it sounded a bit disgusting, it was indeed the most practical "remedy" for the current situation.
Qin Jiuye, who was well-versed in the ways of business, felt that Qiu Ling should also understand this, as he did not pull away from her "acting" hand.
But she also knew the man’s character and didn't want to force him to play along. She was about to "play both roles" and finish the act herself when she felt him grab her hand back, taking the lead.
Qin Jiuye’s eyes widened.
Before she could react appropriately, she heard the usually steady Lord Duanyu speak in a low but gentle voice.
"This friend of mine is a newcomer and is not yet familiar with the rules of the Sword Appreciation Assembly. She is also used to speaking without restraint. I apologize on her behalf. I hope you will not take it to heart. We shall spar again when there is an opportunity."
His words seemed to be an apology for her rudeness, but there wasn't a hint of reproach or anger in his tone. It was light, as if he were admiring the wind and moon, making Young Master Cang and the others freeze once more.
Some among them were still unwilling and were about to step forward to say something when a cough suddenly echoed from the air.
The cough seemed to come from very far away, yet it clearly reached everyone’s ears. Even the sound of the rushing water could not mask it. It was clear the speaker possessed profound internal strength and an aura of authority, intended to remind their disciples to stop while they were ahead and not overstep.
Seeing Young Master Cang and the others bow and disperse, Qin Jiuye couldn't help but curl her lip inwardly.
Those old ghosts hadn't made a sound until now. Their timing was clearly ill-intentioned. First, they wanted to test the strength of the high-and-mighty Kunxu Sect, and second, they wanted to use the opportunity to suppress the momentum of the rising martial star, Lord Duanyu. Young Master Cang and those young disciples had only dared to be so rude and even strike because of that silent permission.
The show ended early. The probing gazes around them, unable to hide their disappointment, were withdrawn. Qiu Ling also led Qin Jiuye to a secluded spot.
As soon as they were away from those burning gazes, Qin Jiuye let out a long breath and slowly lowered her head.
Qiu Ling followed her gaze and realized he had been holding her hand the whole time.
He quickly withdrew his hand, feeling as though his palm had been burned by something.
He had seen the most dangerous battles and the most complex cases, but he truly had never encountered a situation like this. For a moment, he was at a loss, and even his speech was a bit slow.
"Just now, I..."
Seeing his "unable to speak" appearance, Qin Jiuye assumed he was still bothered by the "escape act" just now and quickly offered comfort.
"San-lang, don't blame me for being rash. I only did it out of desperation. The Blade-Unveiling Ceremony hasn't even started; to fight over these small matters would be falling into their trap and suffering a loss. If you feel it damages your reputation, you can just cut ties with me later. Old Tang always says there’s something new in the martial world every day, and after a few days, there will be a new amusement. Please, put your mind at ease."
She spoke very fast, and he could hardly get a word in. He waited for her to finish in one breath before speaking in a low voice.
"I was the one who didn't consider things thoroughly just now, nearly ruining everything. You... you did very well."
He rarely praised others. These words had been rolled around in his heart many times before being spoken. But in the woman’s ears, it felt as though the ethereal Lord Duanyu had been corrupted by her; his polite lies were now quite polished, not at all inferior to his silver-tongued younger brother.
Qin Jiuye waved her hands repeatedly, indicating she understood.
"San-lang, there’s no need for pleasantries between us. We should look out for each other. It’s just that Qi Gu is truly detestable. It’s one thing to use your influence to get in, but she dodged far too quickly when trouble arose."
Qin Jiuye complained, but she also knew that she and Qi Gu were just chance acquaintances. She couldn't demand too much, so she didn't plan to pursue it. Unexpectedly, Qiu Ling picked up the conversation.
"Actually, the reason I was willing to bring Miss Qi Gu in was not for anything else, but because I thought if I were occupied, she could at least accompany you and provide some support. But looking at it now..."
His voice trailed off. Seeing this, Qin Jiuye immediately consoled him.
"Friends when times are good, strangers when trouble hits—it’s only human nature. I just didn't expect that before we even got to the main point, people would be targeting us. Could we have exposed something? Even those martial juniors have heard rumors?"
Recalling the words and actions of those young disciples, Qiu Ling fell into thought, clearly having other ideas.
"Not necessarily. They might have mistaken you for someone else."
Someone else? Could they have mistaken her for the second Miss Su, Su Muhe? Or did this Lord Duanyu have a different persona in the martial world than in officialdom, always accompanied by beauties?
Qin Jiuye was a bit puzzled, her expression shifting. Qiu Ling watched her, waiting a moment before explaining.
"I come from the Academy. According to the rules, when I leave the mountain, I can choose a disciple from the First Villa Under Heaven to be my attendant."
Recalling what Mr. Ding had said on the flower boat last night, Qin Jiuye suddenly understood, but new doubts arose. Since having a few dealings with these martial artists, she had gained some understanding of those from the First Villa Under Heaven. But she was certain she had never seen anyone like that beside Qiu Ling before. Lu Zican, Gao Quan, and even the various soldiers in his courtyard didn't look like they came from that villa.
But then, a red figure flashed through her mind. She felt she had found an incredible answer.
"Could it be... Miss Jiang?"
Despite having seen it several times, the woman’s sharp intelligence still made Qiu Ling feel a deep sense of admiration.
"Correct. Outsiders do not know the details. I mostly traveled alone before. This is the first time I’ve brought someone else. They inevitably suspect you are the attendant the First Villa Under Heaven assigned to me. In the end, I have involved you."
Qin Jiuye nodded in understanding.
In that case, the master-servant relationship between Xu Qiuchi and Jiang Xin'er was "unofficial," which was somewhat similar to her and Li Qiao, the temporary fake siblings...
What "similar"? Was she getting addicted to being a scapegoat?!
Qin Jiuye gave herself a jolt to wake up and quickly said something to change the subject.
"Let’s not talk about that. If we’re really going to trace it back, I should blame my grandfather for taking me to Quexing Mountain instead of sending me to Mount Min to learn skills. Otherwise, I might be able to throw small knives or breathe fire now. Scaring those few just now wouldn't be a problem, and I wouldn't have to trouble San-lang to come save me..."
Before she could finish, a figure flashed by not far away—vaguely an old Taoist with a headcloth.
Qiu Ling blinked and spoke in a low voice.
"Your grandfather had some foresight. I heard the old Taoist of Mount Min went into a cultivation deviation recently. He and his disciples have lost all their hair. Unable to save face, he insists it was a scheme by a medicine peddler and that he went bald from eating fake Suxin Pills."
Qin Jiuye froze, only looking up at Qiu Ling after a long moment. The latter was also looking at her without much expression.
The two stared at each other for a moment, then suddenly laughed at the same time.
He rarely laughed, but in the moment she looked at him, his emotions were stirred.
It was an impulse—an impulse to use this beautiful atmosphere to lay everything bare.
When she had been urgently explaining to him just now, he had really wanted to tell her: no one could force him to accept something he didn't agree with, not even his parents, kin, or the imperial family.
Judging right from wrong and discerning truth from falsehood was his duty.
And the reason he was willing to "play that scene" with her just now was because he had never considered it a scene.
To him, it was only truth, no falsehood.
As if possessed, he slowly took a step closer to her.
"Actually, the reason I chose to come with you today is because..."
Qiu Ling’s words could not continue, for a voice suddenly rang out behind them.
"Greetings, Lord Duanyu."
Qin Jiuye turned around. A servant dressed as a fisherman, carrying an oil lamp and wearing a bamboo hat, stood by the floating bridge like a mountain ghost.
After waiting so long, it was finally their turn to cross the bridge. She just didn't know where Qi Gu had gone, and whether she could find the right place alone in those complex caves.
As Qin Jiuye was thinking, the servant spoke again.
"The Villa Master requests your presence at the Haoran Grotto for a conversation."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 苍九 | Cang Jiu | Head disciple of the Lingxiao Sect. |
| 凌霄派 | Lingxiao Sect | A martial arts sect. |
| 逐月身法 | Moon-Chasing Footwork | A unique movement technique of the Lingxiao Sect. |
| 青刀 | Azure Blade | A famous left-handed blade mentioned in the assembly. |
| 流金丹 | Flowing Gold Pill | A medicine/poison-clearing pill that can be harmful in excess. |
| 浩然洞天 | Haoran Grotto | A specific location/cavern in the First Villa Under Heaven. |
| 溟山 | Mount Min | A place/sect mentioned in the story. |
| 素心丸 | Suxin Pill | A type of medicinal pill. |
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Secret Recipe | Chapter 156 | Outwitting the Young Elites | Novela.app | Novela.app
