Chapter 96: After Many Days Apart
After leaving the house, only Shaman stood outside, along with another figure a few steps away. The other guards had already been ordered to leave to watch over other areas, leaving the place deserted.
Shaman stood beneath the tree, her face aloof and cold as frost, like a black cat pacing back and forth. Upon seeing Xie Huailing approach, the cat warily turned its head, quickly stepping forward to tie her cloak around her neck, completely blocking out the remaining wind. The two of them, as if oblivious to the person beside them, or perhaps unconcerned about how much he had overheard, began to converse freely and self-satisfiedly.
"How is Chief Ren doing?"
"Everything is fine. As you predicted, Shi Guanyin sent a disciple to investigate, and he has now been captured by Chief Ren and is being guarded by Young Master Lu."
"Lu Xiaofeng?" Xie Huailing knew this person wouldn't stay in the house peacefully, and didn't know what to say about him. "What is he doing here again? Is he afraid of getting hurt? Oh well, at least he didn't bring Hua Manlou along, and nothing happened."
Then he asked again, "What about Nangong Ling?"
Shaman tied the cloak's drawstrings and carefully combed the wind-blown strands of her hair. Tonight, she had only done one thing, spending the rest of her time monitoring the situation, so she answered fluently, "It is proceeding steadily according to your plan, Miss. He falsely claimed to be acting on Shi Guanyin's orders and transferred away most of the people from the Southern Prince's Mansion, thus avoiding a lot of fighting."
Xie Huailing nodded. That was good. Having someone who could listen once they changed their mind would save a lot of trouble. Tonight, the Beggars' Sect avoided a fierce battle, and the matter didn't escalate to the point of becoming a city-wide scandal. How the outcome would be written tomorrow was entirely up to her.
She missed asking about one place, but even if she didn't ask, Shaman still had to tell her. Xie Huailing certainly wouldn't forget, but this was part of the deputy's duties, so Shaman continued, "As for Madam Ren, a fire suddenly broke out tonight, and Wuhua's whereabouts haven't been found anywhere else. It's very likely that he was secretly sent to deal with Madam Ren."
It was a very dangerous situation. Few members of the Beggars' Sect could match Wuhua, and Qiu Lingsu wouldn't last long against him either. Shaman's words betrayed a hint of worry, which she quickly extinguished by Xie Huailing.
She dismissed it, not really agreeing with Shaman's worries. Everything tonight was just a piece on her chessboard; no piece could escape her predictions. She looked towards Qiu Lingsu's bedroom; the firelight was long gone, and someone else must have vanished from the world forever: "Master Tianfeng is truly unlucky."
Shaman often couldn't keep up with her train of thought and often didn't understand, so he would ask directly, "What do you mean by that?"
"He painstakingly dealt with the trouble Wuhua caused Shaolin for his treacherous disciple who had committed a heinous crime, and then rushed to the Beggars' Sect day and night to settle this trouble that could ruin his reputation for life. But when he arrived, the treacherous disciple was dead, leaving behind even more complicated mysteries. In the end, he had no choice but to come and ask Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou again. Was it just bad luck?" Xie Huailing replied calmly.
She insisted that Wuhua was dead, as if she had witnessed it herself. Shamando knew the strength of Qiu Lingsu's disciples, but he couldn't ignore Xie Huailing's words. So, there must be something within the Beggars' Sect that he hadn't figured out yet, and it couldn't possibly be that Xie Huailing had misjudged.
After thinking it over, Shaman didn't ask. After all, although they were talking as if no one else was around, there was indeed a "guest" waiting around.
The "guest" was "invited" by Shaman. The only thing Xie Huailing had arranged for Shaman to do tonight was to invite him.
He probably wasn't so willing to come, but since everyone was mobilized, he had to come and keep an eye on the situation, which is why he ended up on someone else's turf. Besides, he was seriously injured, and tonight he might not be a match for Shaman when he was in good condition. In the martial arts world where strength speaks, he had no right to bargain, and his wishes were irrelevant.
Xie Huailing rubbed her eyes slowly, trying to cheer herself up. From a nearby room, she could hear sounds that were far from quiet—like a golden vase shattering, or the clang of clashing swords. Such was the nature of a raging storm; life and death were fleeting, only the passing of blades mattered. But ultimately, it had nothing to do with her; Su Mengzhen wouldn't lose.
After she finished rubbing her eyes, the guest was finally addressed. She glanced at him sideways, then slowly turned around and said, "Lord Ye."
Ye Gucheng's expression was as indifferent as if he were staring at the blood on his sword. His handsome features were filled with an unyielding chill, revealing no trace of willingness, as if he were waiting for an even worse turn of events to unfold. He did not reply to Xie Huailing's words; he knew that whatever he said would be meaningless.
He never questioned the grievances of those who died by his sword in the past, and now that he is to die by another's sword, he will not voice his own grievances either.
What a face that seemed ready to die! Xie Huailing had seen far too many like that. There weren't many interesting people in Bianjing, and she was used to all sorts of cold faces. With just a glance, she could tell what kind of mood someone was in: "Don't look at me like that. I have no interest in your life, nor in Baiyun City. The only people interested in them are your current landlords. To consider me one of them is a rather vulgar insult."
Ye Gucheng's expression remained unchanged, only now he spoke: "Miss Xie, please speak frankly."
“I have nothing to say,” Xie Huailing said. When she was completely certain, she would turn a question into a statement. “I’m just here to ask you to pass on a message. I know that Lord Ye was ordered by the princess to come and keep an eye on things tonight. She’s at the residence where you’re staying, right?”
Ye Gucheng remained silent, standing there like an ice cube.
Xie Huailing didn't need his answer and continued, "So I'd like to ask you to pass on a message to her, asking her not to rush back. I plan to meet with her, and she can choose the time. Don't rush to refuse. Anyway, it's the same for Lord Ye and the Princess whether they go back early or late. Besides, the Southern Prince's Mansion is definitely not a good place for Lord Ye."
"Today we have lost everything and become my defeated opponent. When we return, the city lord will not be in a good position. Why don't you listen to my advice and go and invite the princess?"
"Miss Xie, do you think you're suitable to say these words? Are you suitable to persuade me?" Ye Gucheng coldly interrupted her.
Xie Huailing wasn't angry; instead, she nodded. The fighting inside the room ended at that moment. She wondered if a room had been left for Ye Erniang that could still be repaired. Su Mengzhen would be arriving soon, or perhaps she had already left the room. She said, "There's nothing wrong with it, Lord Ye. Why hold a grudge? It's true that I forced you to this point tonight; but it wasn't me who made you draw your sword against your will, who forced you to fight me. Don't you know who truly forced you?"
"I am deeply moved and saddened by the loss of the city lord, and I feel it is not worth it at all. The city lord may wish to think about it carefully. I personally believe that he still has some ability and can do something for the city lord. City lord Ye should have seen this."
"..."
Ye Gucheng pursed his lips, a hint of silence in his eyes. He knew better than anyone whether Xie Huailing was right or wrong. A predicament was like a river bursting its banks; he didn't need to think to know where the unstoppable, surging waters came from.
A salty, fishy smell drifted in, seemingly dancing, carrying a sense of utter despair, icy and lingering, passing through countless wisps of moonlight. The moon, having passed through the clouds, laid down a full circle of silver light, as if to say the heavy shadows of the sky, yet remaining silent about the fading human form. Its brilliance shone through the eaves and beams, making the paths of human life crystal clear. Where would people, carrying lamps, go? Or would they anxiously walk into the pitch-black night, a night where they knew their own path to death, their own predetermined end?
"There are many paths in this world. If there isn't one, you can still walk your own path. Don't let life be filled with regret, for even a thousand lifetimes cannot dispel this sorrow."
Xie Huailing smelled the blood getting closer and closer, only a few steps away from her. She said her last words to Ye Gucheng: "In fact, the city lord also knows what kind of sword he wants to spend his whole life for."
Unable to speak or say anything more, Ye Gucheng suddenly wanted to close his eyes.
Without saying anything more, Xie Huailing turned her head away and said, "Shaman, see the guest out."
Without hesitation, Shaman returned to the wind, leading Ye Gucheng, and soon they became two black dots under the lamplight of a room further away.
Xie Huailing slowly turned around. The glint of the blade had vanished, and the tragic dream was over. She looked the person up and down, too lazy to count how many days it had been since she last saw them. She simply acted as if she had never seen them before and carefully examined them.
Her cold, stern face, her deep, melancholy eyes, the flickering flames, and her unwavering composure—nothing seemed to change. Well, perhaps her complexion was even worse. And then… and then Su Mengzhen quickly succumbed to her unreserved gaze, achieving the legendary feat of speaking the fastest: “Do you have any other plans?”
Xie Huailing hummed in agreement, her eyes lowered as she looked at the red-sleeved knife. Su Mengzhen should not have been seriously injured; it was Shi Guanyin's blood that rolled down the knife: "Just a little arrangement to appease the little girl."
She's not actually older than other girls, but she always says that.
Su Mengzhen knew, of course, that things were not as simple as she had glossed over, but she would explain in detail when she wanted to, and he was in no hurry to ask her about it here. He skipped over the topic and said, "I spared Shi Guanyin's life."
“That’s perfect, let’s do Qiu Lingsu a favor,” Xie Huailing said. “Shaman will handle it; she’s more effective with Qiu Lingsu than I am. As for dealing with Shi Guanyin’s forces, no problem, her disciples have been captured alive, I can just interrogate her myself. How’s Bianjing doing lately? There must have been some things going on, right?”
She had requested Shi Wukui in her letter, but it was him who came. Knowing she was perceptive, he replied, "Shi Guanyin's martial arts are unfathomable; it might be inappropriate for Shi Wukui to come. Besides, the Six and a Half Hall has been making some moves recently."
He continued, "Lei Sun is playing a hidden game, but his intentions and purposes are completely concealed, and he acts with extreme caution, preferring to slow down his actions to erase any trace. In that case, I might as well give him a chance, leave Bianjing for a while, and see what he's up to."
That old codger has a lot of problems. Xie Huailing thought to herself that she still didn't have enough spies planted in the Six and a Half Hall. She would deal with him when she returned to Bianjing.
When she was thinking, she would stop talking, and when she stopped talking, she looked just like Xiaoyu, but that was all. Su Mengzhen remembered that she had once wanted to ask him for a white jade beauty carved in her likeness, but because she was too lazy to get it, it was never done. Later, when he recalled this incident, he thought that there really shouldn't be such a statue. It could be obscured by clouds and its light could be smeared by fragrant dew. How could jade have formed its shape?
A thought struck him. There were some questions he had wanted to ask for a long time, questions she never wrote in her letters and rarely mentioned about herself. But now, looking at her face, he suddenly felt he had to ask.
But in the end, even as her gaze drifted elsewhere, he didn't ask her the question.
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