Chapter 38 Mother and Son's Hidden Arrows
On the third day of the sixth lunar month, Lin Chengye went to bid farewell to Guan Xiaoxian alone early in the morning. Bian Yi hadn't spared the Shen Shu Tian Ji Sect any money these days, daring to take any precious medicinal materials. When Lin Chengye asked her about it a few days ago, she said that the injuries from breaking through the formation had almost healed and that there would be no problem for her to enter the palace this time.
Although there were still a few days left until the agreed-upon 30-day deadline, Lin Chengye and Bian Yi both felt they should go ahead and keep watch in case anything went wrong, so they went a few days earlier.
Bian Yi, who was always elusive and unwilling to make a special farewell, simply told Lin Chengye that she would wait for him at the mountain gate and that he didn't need to rush and could say goodbye slowly.
"Enter the palace?"
Guan Xiaoxian was taken aback upon hearing this news. The martial arts world and the imperial court were on opposite sides; although the Southern Qi royal family gave her some face, they were ultimately not on the same path. She couldn't help but chime in.
"Be careful in everything, especially with Chu Wuding. I used to admire him, but ever since he got involved in the struggle for the throne in Southern Qi and was revered as the Imperial Tutor, we've had no contact with each other. He's a real demigod; he could probably crush the two of you like an ant."
"Thank you for the reminder, Master Guan. This is our second time entering the palace, and we have made thorough preparations."
Lin Chengye smiled; she was glad that Guan Xiaoxian had offered a reminder.
"However, since His Majesty Ji took charge of the government, Southern Qi is now thriving, and Hero Chu has done a good deed."
"Hmph, if it weren't for that, Chu Wuding would have been scorned by the martial arts world long ago."
Guan Xiaoxian sighed and shook her head.
"Back then, the Southern Qi Dynasty was in turmoil, with constant infighting within the royal family and the people suffering for a long time. The martial arts world hated the court and disliked it even more, mostly remaining on the sidelines. There are few people as decisive as Chu Wuding, who actually brought the Qingluan Xianzhi Temple out of the martial arts world and into the court struggle. He made the right bet. Although His Majesty is young, he has the world and the people in his heart."
"...This journey is dangerous, so I am not sure when I will return."
Lin Chengye bowed to Guan Xiaoxian, then suddenly raised his eyes and said in a deep voice.
"However, I do have a favor to ask of you."
...
"Oh? You're going to be gone for a few days?"
Amidst the clanging of the blacksmith's hammer, Liu Zhenglin managed to glean a few key words from Lin Chengye's refined speech. She stopped her work in surprise.
"Is there a possibility he won't come back? Is it very dangerous?"
"They'll come back sooner or later. They haven't even learned much yet, how can they not come back? I just don't know when."
Lin Chengye had thought things through these past few days. Since Sect Master Guan hadn't mentioned the Bone-Body Twin-Headed Serpent again, she wouldn't insist. Sect Master Guan's tacit approval of her entering the Hundred Faces Pavilion and even learning its secret techniques was perhaps the biggest concession he could make.
"...What should we do?"
Liu Zhenglin rubbed her hands together nervously, the black ash from her palms scattering into the air. Suddenly, she looked up and spoke again.
"Wait a moment, I'll go and call Yu Jiang over."
Before long, two figures appeared at the entrance of the forge, pulling and tugging at each other. Yu Jiang's frustrated voice and Liu Zhenglin's slow but unyielding argument grew closer and closer. The door of the forge was clearly open, but it seemed as if there was some monstrous beast inside. Yu Jiang clung to the crack in the door, refusing to go any further.
"What are you doing... Don't pull, don't pull."
"Didn't I already tell you? Lin Chengye is leaving."
"Ahhh..." Yu Jiang suddenly used all her strength to break free from Liu Zhenglin's hand, squatted down and wrapped herself into a ball that could not be easily lifted, buried her head in her knees, and let out a series of incoherent howls.
"I know, but I'm not... ready yet..."
"The remaining oars".
A somewhat helpless voice sounded from above.
Yu Jiang suddenly tensed up, her eyes widening in shock. She looked up, and a few strands of hair, carrying the sweet scent of pastries, fell into her pupils. Against the morning sunlight, the man bent down slightly, meeting her eyes directly.
She had never truly looked into Lin Chengye's dark eyes, just as she was afraid to meet Guan Xiaoxian's gaze. But today, glimpsing them, she found no trace of aloofness or indifference.
"Where...where are you going?"
Yu Jiang stammered out the words, and as soon as he finished speaking, he wished he could slap himself.
"Yu Jiang, due to some unforeseen events, my martial arts have been completely destroyed, and my meridians have been severed. My purpose in coming here to interview the Divine Pivot Heavenly Mystery Sect is actually to find the Bone-Growing Twin-Headed Serpent."
Lin Chengye was calm, his tone even gentle. But as each word was spoken, Yu Jiang was stunned. She lost her balance and fell backward to the ground, still staring blankly at Lin Chengye.
She actually hoped that this person would say something malicious, like he was lying to her.
"Unfortunately, no." Lin Chengye looked at her helplessly and said again.
"I have many things to finish and cannot take over the position of young sect leader. It is only because Sect Leader Guan is kind-hearted that he gave me the opportunity to come here to learn."
"But...but you really are talented, I, I can see that. Are those things dangerous? Can't we not do them?"
After a while, Yu Jiang finally realized what was happening and hurriedly spoke up.
She went to see Liu Zhenglin, who shrugged at her, not particularly surprised, presumably already knowing. She couldn't help but feel a little resentful, but she regretted her earlier stubbornness even more.
She...she thought that Lin Chengye hadn't suffered much in order to blame and dislike her, but little did she know...Yu Jiang's nose tingled and her eyes welled up with tears.
That way, she wouldn't see Lin Chengye as her enemy. She would feel sorry for him, and also think that Lin Chengye was very powerful, really powerful. Yu Jiang's voice was a little choked as she continued.
"Why can't you stay in the Heavenly Mystery Sect? I...I apologize to you. I didn't mean to treat you like that before, I just..."
"Thank you, but what I have to do is also very important, and I can't let it go."
Lin Chengye sighed and reached out to rub Yu Jiang's head.
"It's okay, I know you didn't mean it. It's just that I'm leaving and I probably won't be back here for a while, and I don't want any more misunderstandings between us."
How could someone be like this, not even giving her another half-month to throw a tantrum? Yu Jiang inexplicably burst into tears. Her crying was comical; she didn't want to cry miserably, so she kept a straight face, but she couldn't hold back her tears.
Lin Chengye was momentarily at a loss. After a moment's thought, he cupped Yu Jiang's face in his hands and offered her his sleeve as a handkerchief. Her tears seemed endless; soon, his sleeve was soaked through.
"Hurry up and take the things out."
Liu Zhenglin awkwardly touched the tip of his nose and whispered a reminder.
"I know, I know... you don't need to tell me."
Yu Jiang mumbled, "Luckily, I didn't wipe my snot." She rummaged through the cloth bag at her waist and suddenly stuffed something cold into Lin Chengye's hand.
"This is……"
In the morning sunlight, Lin Chengye stroked the object in his hand.
The object resembled a short, heavy iron flute. Its walls were polished to a dull, cold sheen, and bas-reliefs depicted coiled serpentine scales. On the triangular snake's head, a pair of bright red vertical pupils stood out vividly.
"A sleeve dart cast from ebony and bronze," Liu Zhenglin added. "The blueprints were designed by Yu Jiang, and I made it. It was her idea, but she was always too embarrassed to give it to you."
"It's an improved version of the silk-sleeve arrow! I added some design elements myself; the arrow is not only coated with potent poison but also contains recyclable silk threads."
Yu Jiang corrected him with dissatisfaction, and then very seriously showed Lin Chengye several of the hidden buttons.
"I mainly modified the arrows themselves, a total of six arrows. But when they are shot and touch a human body or are blocked by a sword, they can split instantly in two, with a silver needle hidden inside, making them absolutely unexpected!"
Yu Jiang's eyes lit up when she talked about the mechanism, completely forgetting her earlier struggles and sadness. Lin Chengye looked at her profile, suddenly smiled, and directly slipped the hidden arrow onto his left arm. With a flick of his sleeve, it vanished instantly.
"That's amazing. Thank you, Yu Jiang. I just happen to need some self-defense equipment."
This wasn't flattery; Lin Chengye genuinely liked it. She lacked internal energy, making swords and blades difficult to wield, but this hidden arrow, driven entirely by a mechanism, was just right.
"This is something I just researched, and... there's only one like it in the world!"
Yu Jiang finally broke into a smile through her tears. She suddenly felt relieved, as if she had unloaded the burden of the past few days. The days and nights she had struggled with herself were finally over, and she was glad that, with Liu Zhenglin's insistence, she had taken a step she wouldn't regret.
"I will definitely cherish it."
Lin Chengye said earnestly.
"Give it a name?"
Seeing the moment the two put aside their differences, Liu Zhenglin wanted to stand up and applaud, so he quickly interjected.
"Come here, Chengye, this is yours."
"How about calling it...Mother and Child Hidden Arrows?"
The mother arrow contains the daughter arrows, all deadly attacks; this name couldn't be more fitting.
Liu Zhenglin and Yu Jiang exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise and admiration in each other's eyes, and said at the same time.
"Let's call it that."
This short but chaotic and hasty farewell finally came to a perfect end. Lin Chengye left with a light heart, facing the rising sun. She looked down several times at the mother-and-child sleeve arrows on her arm, her affection evident.
Lin Chengye suddenly found herself reluctant to leave. If she were just a wandering swordswoman, her bond with the two of them would likely be even stronger.
"...You still owe us a meal!"
Suddenly, Yu Jiang seemed to regain his momentum from somewhere and roared at Lin Chengye's departing figure, startling Liu Zhenglin so much that he took a half step back and patted his chest.
Lin Chengye paused upon hearing this, turned around, smiled at the two of them, and waved his sleeves.
...
Lin Chengye was still somewhat dazed when he stepped out of the outer gate of Tianji Sect.
The two stone lions, each holding a ball in its mouth, still stood guard, but this time their path was no longer illusory and filled with murderous intent; instead, it was a gentle stream, with lotus blossoms just beginning to open, bidding farewell to their guests. Behind them, the Divine Pivot Heavenly Mystery Gate was no longer a terrifying illusion and killing intent, but rather seemed like a solid support for them.
Bian Yi's eyes suddenly sharpened, and she reached out to block Lin Chengye, saying in a deep voice.
"Su Ningpei, bring your men out here."
"We meet again."
A familiar figure emerged from behind a massive boulder, accompanied by a dozen or so guards. With a flick of her finger, the guards lined up on either side, bowing to Bian Yi and Lin Chengye. Su Ningpei faced them, respectfully raising her hand, her smile still as sly as ever.
"His Majesty is incredibly insightful. Knowing that you two would likely be arriving soon, he specially instructed me to escort you to the palace."
"...Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Lin Chengye responded with a forced smile.
She was already somewhat angry; this was clearly surveillance all along. The fact that they knew they were from the Divine Pivot Heavenly Mystery Sect and dared to wait so close was a clear warning: the Southern Qi royal family wasn't afraid of the Divine Pivot Heavenly Mystery Sect.
She calmly rubbed her left arm and said indifferently.
"Lead the way, Lord Su."
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