Undercurrents surge, seize opportunities

I stayed temporarily in Chao Gai's secret villa.

Life at the villa was far more bustling than at Zixu Monastery, yet also more deeply rooted in the everyday. Chao Gai was a generous and magnanimous man, known for his loyalty to his servants and servants. The villa exuded a sense of unity, a kind of untamed hero. Liu Tang was a straightforward and fiery man, his days filled with either martial arts training or drinking with his servants, his voice resonating like a bell. Wu Yong spent most of his time in his study, either lost in solitary contemplation or in private conversations with Chao Gai and Gongsun Sheng, his feather fan gently waving as he plotted countless strategic maneuvers.

As a descendant of an old friend with an ambiguous status, I was placed in a relatively independent courtyard. Everyone in the village was polite yet distant to me, and aside from the maid who brought me meals daily, I was rarely bothered. This was exactly what I wanted.

I knew my place, and was careful in what I said and did. I spent most of my time in the yard, either practicing the "Tao Yin" that I still couldn't get right, or holding my pipa and playing some common tunes of that era, never revealing anything unusual.

Gongsun Sheng seemed very busy, discussing important matters with Chao Gai, Wu Yong, and others, and occasionally going out alone, I don't know what he was doing. He didn't restrict my freedom, but he also made it clear that the area around the villa was full of dangers and I couldn't leave at will.

That afternoon, I was sitting on a stone bench in the side yard, tuning the strings of my pipa, but my mind was drifting far away.

According to the original novel, after the Birthday Gift, Song Jiang secretly released Chao Gai, Liu Tang sent him a reward, and Song Jiang angrily killed Yan Poxi, and step by step he was forced to go to Liangshan. Now, Song Jiang should have learned about the incident of Chao Gai and others. How will he act?

"Miss Bu, you are in such a refined mood." A gentle voice sounded behind her.

I turned around and saw Wu Yong standing at the gate of the courtyard, holding a feather fan and looking at me with a smile.

"Mr. Wu." I quickly stood up and saluted. I always maintained the highest level of vigilance towards this wise man.

"No need to be so polite." Wu Yong walked into the courtyard and glanced at the pipa in my arms. "I heard that Miss Bu is proficient in music. I wonder where she learned it from?"

Here he comes again. He's still testing my limits.

"My family has passed down some minor skills. I can't say I'm proficient in them, and I don't have any master. I'm sorry to make you laugh." I once again used the excuses of "inherited from my family" and "self-taught".

Wu Yong smiled, but remained silent. He then asked, "Young lady, do you know that the outside world is in turmoil because of what we have done?"

My heart moved, and I replied cautiously, "I have heard a little bit. I heard that the court is furious, and arrest warrants have been issued to every state."

"Yes," Wu Yong sighed softly, his eyes sharp as a knife. "Cai Jing, Gao Qiu and other treacherous ministers will definitely want to eliminate us as soon as possible. Now we seem to be safe for the time being, but in fact we are walking on thin ice. One wrong step will lead to eternal damnation."

His words sounded like a sigh, but also like a warning to me.

I lowered my head and remained silent, waiting for his next words.

Wu Yong paced a few steps and suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Miss Bu, since she was brought here by Mr. Gongsun, she must be an extraordinary person. I would like to ask, do you have any opinions on the future?"

My heart skipped a beat! What did he mean? Did he guess something? Or did Gongsun Sheng tell him something?

I forced myself to remain calm, looking up to meet his gaze, trying to appear blank. "Mr. Wu, why do you say that? The future is so uncertain, how can a mere mortal like me know?"

Wu Yong stared intently into my eyes, as if trying to find even the slightest flaw. After a moment, he suddenly smiled, gently waving his feather fan. "I'm sorry for being rude. But the situation is extremely precarious right now. Any slight change could affect the overall outcome. Since you are a 'variable', I have to be cautious. I hope you won't blame me."

He directly pointed out the word "variable"!

A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on my back. He really knew! Did Gongsun Sheng tell him? Or did he deduce it himself?

"Sir, you're too kind." I managed to maintain my composure. "I'm a humble woman whose words carry little weight. I just want to find a place to stay. I have no intention of affecting the overall situation."

"I hope so." Wu Yong gave me a meaningful look. "However, sometimes, we have no choice. Miss, please take care of yourself."

After saying this, he did not stay any longer, but turned around and floated away.

I stood there, my hands and feet feeling cold. Wu Yong's probing this time was more direct and pointed than any before. He had practically deemed me a "variable," clearly expressing his concern for the uncertainty I might bring and his... desire to exploit me?

In front of this wise man, I felt like a piece of blank paper. Although the key information had not been leaked, the label of "unusual" had been firmly affixed to me.

For the next two days, I kept a low profile, barely leaving the house. The atmosphere inside the villa seemed even more solemn. Chao Gai and the others were having frequent secret meetings, and even Liu Tang had quieted his boisterous nature, his brow tinged with anxiety.

I knew something big must have happened.

That night, I was staring at a solitary lamp when I suddenly heard a very slight knocking sound outside the window.

"Who?" I stood up warily.

"It's me." Gongsun Sheng's cold voice came from outside the window.

I quickly opened the window and saw that he was wearing night clothes and seemed to have blended into the night. Only his eyes were still clear.

"Master?" I looked at him in surprise.

"Pack up and come with me." He said briefly.

"Now? Where to?" I was even more confused.

"Go see someone." His answer was still simple. "Perhaps, he can solve the confusion in your heart."

Meeting someone again? Who is it this time?

I didn't dare ask more questions, knowing that he was not the kind of person who did it without a purpose, so I quickly changed into dark clothes, hugged my pipa (this had almost become my instinct), and followed him out of the side yard quietly.

Gongsun Sheng knew the villa's guard arrangements like the back of his hand. He led me through the layers of sentries like a ghost, without alerting anyone. Once outside the villa, he put his arm around my waist and whispered, "Close your eyes!"

I felt my body lighten, and the wind whistled in my ears, as if I were riding on clouds. When I regained my feet and opened my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar forest. In the distance, I could vaguely see the lights of Yuncheng County.

He actually brought me from the villa in the mountains to the vicinity of Yuncheng in such a short time!

"Master, who are we going to meet?" I couldn't suppress the curiosity and uneasiness in my heart.

Gongsun Sheng didn't answer, but simply gestured for me to follow. We walked a short distance through the dense forest before a road emerged, with a solitary land temple beside it.

It was already late at night, and there was no one on the official road, only the desolate moonlight shining down.

We hid in the shadows of the trees beside the temple and waited quietly.

After about an incense stick of time, the sound of hurried horse hooves came from the end of the official road. Soon, a horse galloped over, and the rider seemed very anxious, constantly looking back.

When the man came closer, I could see his face clearly in the moonlight - he had big ears on a square face, a straight nose and a square mouth. He looked like a hero who was willing to help others and give them wealth. Who else could it be but Song Jiang!

He actually appeared here at this time!

I instantly understood Gongsun Sheng's purpose in bringing me here! He wanted me to witness with my own eyes the crucial plot after "Song Jiang secretly released Chao Gai"!

Song Jiang galloped to the temple, reined in his horse, and dismounted, his movements a bit flustered. He walked quickly into the temple, as if looking for something, or perhaps waiting for someone.

At this moment, the sound of horse hooves and noisy shouts could be heard again from the rear! The light of the fire flickered, and it turned out to be a group of officers and soldiers chasing them! The one leading them was vaguely Zhu Tong, the captain of Yuncheng County, and Lei Heng!

"Song Ya Si! Don't run!" Zhu Tong shouted loudly on his horse.

Song Jiang rushed out of the temple with a pale face, and was about to be surrounded by soldiers!

At this critical moment, a man suddenly appeared from behind the land temple. This man was tall and also dressed as a public servant. He took advantage of the confrontation between Zhu Tong, Lei Heng and Song Jiang to grab Song Jiang and whispered, "Brother, follow me!"

It's Zhu Tong! He's here to arrest us openly, but secretly to let us go!

Zhu Tong led Song Jiang around to the back of the temple and pointed at a low wall. "Brother, hurry up! If we go to Liangshan, there might be a way to survive!"

Song Jiang looked at Zhu Tong gratefully, and without hesitation, he climbed over the wall and disappeared into the night. Zhu Tong deliberately made some noise to lead Lei Heng and the soldiers in another direction.

The whole process was as fast as lightning and full of tension and drama.

Hiding in the shadows of the trees, I watched with trepidation, barely daring to breathe. This was the crucial scene in the original novel that determined Song Jiang's fate! Thus, I became a witness to history!

The noise of the officers and soldiers gradually faded away, and silence returned to the land temple.

Gongsun Sheng then led me out of the shadows of the trees.

"Do you understand?" he asked calmly.

I nodded, my emotions mixed. Witnessing the beginning of Song Jiang's forced ascent to Liangshan Mountain gave me a deeper understanding of the reality and cruelty of this world. The so-called "forced to Liangshan Mountain" wasn't just empty talk; it was an inevitable outcome woven together by countless coincidences, human relationships, and the harsh realities of life.

"Song Jiang's departure will undoubtedly lead to a major shift in the landscape of Liangshan." Gongsun Sheng gazed at the direction where Song Jiang had disappeared, his tone calm and composed, "Chao Tianwang... may not be his match."

I was shocked! He saw things so clearly! When Song Jiang just started to escape, he had already foreseen the future changes in the power structure of Liangshan!

"Since you foresaw this, why…" I wanted to ask him why he didn't warn Chao Gai, but I swallowed the words back. This was a "heavenly secret," and as a Taoist, he probably couldn't, and didn't want to, interfere too much.

"The tide of events is unstoppable," Gongsun Sheng replied. He turned, his gaze resting on my face, its depth striking in the moonlight. "I brought you here to see this because I want you to understand how deeply intertwined the affairs of this world are. A single move can affect the entire system. What you know may only reveal the tip of the iceberg, but the undercurrents beneath the surface far exceed your imagination."

Is he warning me not to think I can do whatever I want just because I know the plot?

"Then... what about you, Taoist priest?" I couldn't help but ask, "You knew the general trend, but you still participated in it. Why?"

Gongsun Sheng was silent for a moment, then looked up at the cold moon in the night sky. He slowly said, "What I have done is merely... to follow the trend and meet the calamity, and to complete this cycle of cause and effect."

Follow the trend and deal with the disaster, and complete this cause and effect.

It was a profound statement, but I seemed to understand it a little. His involvement in the Liangshan affair wasn't for fame, fortune, or pure brotherhood, but more like a... spiritual necessity? To fulfill his connection with these "constellations"?

"Bu Luanyin," he suddenly called my full name, his tone serious, "Now that you've entered this situation, there's no turning back. Stay in the manor and wait and see what happens. Your 'difference' might be of some use at a crucial moment."

A first-line use?

He... is he hinting that my "prophetic" ability might be of use in the future?

I looked at his calm, cool profile, and a wave of shock surged within me. He had always known my value! He had brought me down the mountain, brought me to witness all this, not just to "teach" me, but also to... observe and evaluate, and at the right moment, incorporate me, this "variable," into his chess game!

I suddenly felt that my earlier "strategies" seemed so childish and ridiculous in front of someone like him. It wasn't that he didn't understand, it was just that he didn't care. In his eyes, I was perhaps more like a special tool, useful, but to be used with caution.

A chill rose from the bottom of my heart, but at the same time, an unprecedented sense of clarity also arose.

Since I cannot escape and have been involved, I cannot just be an "oddity" or "tool" passively waiting for judgment.

I must take the initiative to grasp this "difference" and make myself important enough, so important that... he cannot give up easily, and even needs to face up to my existence and wishes.

I looked at Gongsun Sheng, and for the first time, I no longer just saw him as a target that needed to be "conquered", but as a collaborator and opponent who needed to be taken seriously and even handled with caution.

"I understand, Taoist Priest." I replied softly, my voice unusually calm in the night wind. "I will... make good use of my 'difference'."

Gongsun Sheng turned around and looked at me deeply. Under the moonlight, his eyes seemed to fluctuate slightly before finally returning to silence.

"Go back."

As the night deepened, we quietly returned to the villa. The way we came seemed different from the way we left.