Chapter 73: Calm Beyond the Storm
The next day, Xie Huailing returned the hidden dart to Shaman. The carefully wiped dart left no trace of blood; the hidden story and the erased bloodstains were buried together. Shaman, bewildered, took back the dart. Although she couldn't see anything wrong with it, she didn't ask any questions. She knew Xie Huailing had his own plans, and as long as Xie Huailing didn't speak, she only needed to remain silent.
However, out of a sense of professional responsibility, Shaman still observed Xie Huailing's expression to make sure that this person, who usually slept until noon, hadn't lost a single hair: "Was everything alright last night?"
Xie Huailing lowered her eyes, slowly yawned, and said with the last syllable of her yawn trailing off like a cloud on the horizon, "I'm fine, don't worry, at least there were no accidents last night."
She understood that Shaman was guarding against assassination. Back in Bianjing, Xie Huailing lived with Su Mengzhen, and no one would be foolish enough to attack her while Su Mengzhen was still alive—that would be tantamount to rushing to their death. But now that she was out of Bianjing, countless open and covert attacks would swarm out, aimed directly at her life. The mere thought of eliminating Su Mengzhen's most trusted confidant was enough to make those hiding behind the scenes laugh, especially the Six and a Half Hall—how could they possibly let such a golden opportunity slip by?
Therefore, Shaman's nerves were actually on edge the whole time, especially last night when Xie Huailing told the night watchman to stay away from her room without giving a reason. However, her answer wasn't wrong either; Gong Jiu didn't fall into the category of assassination, so she didn't want to make Shaman worry. Yes, she was such an understanding and considerate boss.
Hearing Xie Huailing say that everything was alright, Shaman breathed a slight sigh of relief, and her complexion improved considerably. She then sat down at the table with Xie Huailing, and after lunch, they talked about what had happened that morning.
Ever since Xie Huailing mentioned Ye Gucheng, Shaman had kept it in mind. Upon getting up this morning, Shaman first went to see Madam Ren, and then "coincidentally" ran into Nangong Ling, who had just had breakfast with Ren Ci and Madam Ren. Her relationship with Nangong Ling was far from good, so Shaman first called Nangong Ling down under the guise of greeting her, then chatted with her briefly under the pretext of business, and finally subtly inquired about Ye Gucheng.
Recalling Nangong Ling's subtle expression, Shaman frowned. After hesitating several times, she said, "Nangong Ling said that he and Ye Gucheng hit it off at first sight and were actually friends. He sent a letter to Ye Gucheng, and he didn't expect Ye Gucheng to actually come. As for the girl you asked me to ask about, Nangong Ling said that Ye Gucheng brought her. That's all he said."
"It's Ye Gucheng again," Xie Huailing murmured to himself.
She remained expressionless, and no one could tell whether she had listened or not.
"As for the rest..." She continued, a strange expression, as if she had found something completely out of her own baggage, appeared on Shaman's face. It could also be described as an emotion somewhere between thought and confusion. "I always felt that Nangong Ling was a bit odd. I remember telling you in the carriage that Nangong Ling was a very ambitious person, one could even say very driven."
"Ren Ci said he was impetuous, but in reality he was also somewhat radical. It's just that he usually listened to Ren Ci, and because people always thought that sons resembled their fathers, such a reputation didn't spread. In my opinion, he even wanted to change the Beggars' Sect's policy of self-preservation. With the Jianghu in turmoil, Ren Ci was going to join the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion, and he might not agree with it. When I was still in Bianjing, he never talked much about these things. But today, his attitude seems to have changed."
Shaman said, "He kept pressing me for details, even asking how long we were going to stay at the Beggars' Sect. I just said that everything was up to you, Miss, and brushed him off."
Xie Huailing pondered for a moment. She had never met Nangong Ling, but from Shaman's few words, the image of a spirited and self-satisfied young man was still vividly clear. She asked, "Can he influence the Beggars' Sect's decision?"
Shaman asserted: "Absolutely impossible."
The Beggars' Sect's status and prestige are entirely built on Ren Ci alone. No one in the sect does not respect Ren Ci. Since Ren Ci has made up his mind, there is no one else who can change it.
"Then don't pay too much attention to him for now, but keep an eye on him." Xie Huailing poked the rice porridge with her spoon, aimlessly stirring it around, seemingly oblivious to the aroma emanating from it. "Talk to me about him again in a couple of days. Sigh, I should have brought Chief Steward Yang with me; I feel quite lost without him." She was genuinely envious of Yang Wuxie's work abilities, sometimes even wishing she could steal him away from Su Mengzhen.
It's okay, she'll have a secretary just as good someday.
"Anything else?" Xie Huailing asked, after poking so hard that the bowl was almost worn away, that she finally scooped up a small spoonful of porridge.
She brought a small spoonful of porridge to her lips, then swallowed it expressionlessly.
This is all the information Shaman has gathered so far. Shaman said to her, "There's nothing else worth noting. If I had to say something, it's that besides us, the only other people staying in the Beggars' Sect right now are Hua Manlou, the seventh young master of the Hua family, and his friend, Lu Xiaofeng with 'four eyebrows.' But they are just ordinary wanderers in the martial arts world."
"Four eyebrows?" Xie Huailing swallowed a mouthful of porridge and raised an eyebrow: "Why would he have such a nickname? Does he really have four eyebrows?"
“Not really,” Shaman explained. “He has a mustache that looks like eyebrows, and according to rumors, he’s a rare and interesting person. He makes many friends, has a carefree personality, and loves to tell witty remarks, so he got that nickname.”
Upon hearing the word "interesting," Xie Huailing sighed softly, as if Shaman were describing some rare treasure: "An interesting person, a rare find that wouldn't appear in Bianjing City for eight hundred lifetimes."
Who would dare to think about it? The most interesting person she has met so far is Bai Feifei, and the most humorous person in Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou is herself. So much so that when she hears Lu Xiaofeng's introduction again, she feels as if she has been transported to another world—does such a person really exist in this martial arts world?
Shaman asked, "Do you want to see him? It's still some time before Grand Tutor Li returns to Li Garden. The Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion has a history with the Hua family. Although I already visited Young Master Hua this morning, it wouldn't hurt to go again."
How close are you?
Shaman replied, "The old landlord and the head of the Hua family were friends back then, and it seems they even prayed at the same temple when they were praying for a child."
Xie Huailing sensed something was off, and missed Bai Feifei even more: "...That really is very effective, but is it necessary to specifically mention something like praying for a child? It's weird to say it out loud."
She sighed, then put the porridge in her mouth again, but it tasted like nothing at all.
"So you're going?" Shaman asked again.
"No way, why would I need to go out and talk to someone if I had nothing better to do?"
That's true, Shaman was prepared for Xie Huailing to stay home for several days without going out. She casually followed up with a question: "Will she go out? I'll make arrangements if she does."
Unexpectedly, when faced with this question, Xie Huailing's mind flashed back to the face of the girl she had met briefly the day before, followed by the name Ye Gucheng. The timid face kept replaying in her mind, and a premonition echoed as the girl walked away. Her fingertips tapped the spoon, and remembering that it was too early to find Li Taifu, she stopped and finally casually said, "Oh, well, I still need to go out. A walk is good for the soul."
Shaman called her out: "Don't think you can put down your spoon and keep eating just because you've started talking nonsense."
Exposed, Xie Huailing thought, "How cold and ruthless Shaman is..."
.
It took Xie Huailing half an hour to finish her lunch, and the dishes had to be reheated twice. She lay on the table for a while, staring at the scenery outside, until Shaman lifted her up and she finally went out.
At this hour, there's plenty of time to eat dinner a little earlier. Just look up, step outside, and you'll see the sun, past its zenith, hanging lazily in the sky. Having passed through the coldest time of the year, it has also regained its vitality, grooming itself neatly, reaching the zenith of daylight, bathing the vast expanse of green fields in its radiance, and then, in the distance, all colors seem to bow in reverence. Heaven and earth gaze at each other from afar, as if they have rehearsed this promise time and time again in the past years.
She followed the path out of the courtyard. The last trace of winter after the night was nothing more than a puddle of melted snow; no trace of yesterday's soft, lingering snow could be seen. Green shoots had sprouted from the snow-soaked ground. She avoided a few and continued walking further ahead.
Shaman lagged half a step behind her. The atmosphere was too quiet as neither of them spoke. After turning a corner, Xie Huailing passed by the wooden pavilion where he had met the girl and glanced at it a few more times.
Of course, the person is no longer here, or rather, it would be strange if they stayed. Xie Huailing had doubts that she couldn't let go of, but she didn't tell Shaman about them because she always felt that there should be another angle to approach this matter.
She was a very contradictory girl, Xie Huailing noticed it the moment she saw her. And this contradiction existed, yet she always felt that something was subtly changing.
She didn't think she was overthinking things; there are no coincidences in the world, and she believed in the principle of figuring out what she didn't understand.
Thinking this, Xie Huailing withdrew her gaze, glanced at Yu Guangzhong's Shaman, and suddenly sighed heavily.
Sensing the strange aura, Shaman naturally became displeased. Under her displeased gaze, Xie Huailing spoke up: "Shaman, if only you could be like Steward Yang, would you be willing to take another master now?"
Shaman didn't hesitate for a second: "I don't want to. And you, can you please stop thinking about strange things as soon as you leave the building?"
"What are you talking about? I said the same thing before I left the building." Xie Huailing said without batting an eye, appearing remarkably composed. "Besides, how can this be considered strange or odd? I was clearly thinking about something interesting. For example, what can't be eaten with rice porridge at noon?"
She put on a serious face, and Shaman thought for a moment, then became curious: "What?"
"brick."
Shaman: "..."
"Are you crazy? She really can't take it anymore!" Shaman was annoyed. Because of the repeated occurrences, there was a pathetic sense of familiarity in the aftereffects. But before she could say anything or pity herself, a sound of someone spitting out a mouthful and then coughing violently came from behind a nearby tree.
Just as the legendary swordsman with "four eyebrows" had said, he was merely passing by when he almost choked on his own wine. He wiped his mouth and didn't feel embarrassed when he met the person's gaze.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com