Jiang Chuting and Lin Zhi returned to their residence, and Jiang Xian indeed kept a close watch on them.
When the male prostitute named Feige saw them return, he stood up nervously, his hands clenched. "Why, why are you arresting me?"
Jiang Chuting smiled at him and said gently, "You've misunderstood. We're not arresting you; we just want to ask you a few questions." She then recounted how they had tracked him down to Jiangling. Fei Ge's eyes widened in surprise; realizing they were trying to rescue him, not harm him, he breathed a slight sigh of relief. When he sat back down, his body was noticeably more relaxed than before.
Jiang Xian then realized why Jiang Chuting had detained the person; it was related to the matter he was investigating.
Jiang Xian couldn't help but glance at Lin Zhi. So much progress so quickly, and the person they were looking for was in Changliu Village. Could it be that he was right, and that Lin Zhi had orchestrated everything?
Lin Zhi accidentally met his questioning gaze, frowned, and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Jiang Xian chuckled and leisurely picked up his teacup to drink.
Jiang Chuting didn't notice the undercurrent between the two of them. He sat down next to Fei Ge, poured him a cup of tea, and asked him about his experiences during this period.
Feige's account was extremely simple: "I, I don't know what happened. I was just recuperating because of abdominal pain when suddenly someone took me to a place where there were several other people with similar symptoms. After giving each of us a pill, we rested for one night, and once our abdominal pain subsided, they let us go."
This was somewhat different from what Jiang Chuting had thought. If what Fei Ge said was true, then the person who took him away this time was saving him, not harming him.
"Do you remember where that place is?"
Feige shook her head: "We were blindfolded with black cloths when we were taken there and when we were taken out." After a slight pause, she added: "However, I feel that we are not far from Jiangling. And..."
Jiang Chuting pressed on softly, "And what else?"
Feige frowned and thought about it carefully for a moment, "Moreover, I seem to vaguely hear someone say something about a valley."
Not far from Jiangling is... Miyue Valley, which is located in a valley near Jiangling.
Jiang Chuting: "After you took that pill, your stomach pain stopped? And it hasn't recurred?"
Feige nodded: "Yes, at least I haven't done it so far."
Jiang Chuting pondered for a moment, then asked, "Then how did you end up at Changliu Manor?"
Feige blushed slightly and said truthfully, "I have no money and no other skills to make money. The steward of Changliu Manor took pity on me and took me in to work as an assistant for a few days, giving me a couple of meals. I just arrived."
So that's how it is. If what he said is true, then his appearance here is just a coincidence.
Jiang Chuting asked where the people he brought with him had gone, and Feige said he didn't know. He then asked when and why the abdominal pain started, and Feige replied, "It started more than four months ago. I don't know the reason either. In short, my stomach started hurting suddenly, and the doctor couldn't diagnose it."
She couldn't get any more information from him, so Jiang Chuting gave him some silver and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Go on with your work."
Feige was surprised and delighted to receive money for answering just a few questions. She left with the silver in her hands.
The three gathered around the table. Jiang Xian and Lin Zhi also heard Fei Ge's words. Jiang Chuting then shared his guess: "If Fei Ge heard correctly, then the people from Misty Moon Valley are the most suitable to capture him."
"Moon Valley..." Lin Zhi read it aloud again in a low voice after hearing it, and then said to Jiang Chuting as if remembering something, "I vaguely remember that when my grandmother was alive, I saw the Valley Master of Moon Valley twice at home."
Upon hearing him mention Lin Xuan, Jiang Xian's gaze sharpened slightly. Jiang Chuting's eyes widened slightly, and after a moment of silence, he asked, "What did your grandmother want to see him for?" Lin Xuan had indeed made many friends among the martial arts world's most capable and extraordinary individuals when he was alive.
Lin Zhi had no idea what they were thinking and said frankly, "I just happened to see it. My grandmother has always been in poor health, so she must have been looking for him to make elixirs to help her recover."
That makes sense. Lin Xuan was already in poor health, and after giving birth to Lin Xi, she became even weaker. She had been spending a lot of money to hire famous doctors to help her recover.
Jiang Xian steered the conversation back on track, asking curiously, "If it really was someone from Misty Moon Valley who captured them, what are they doing? It looks like they're rescuing someone, but why are they acting so suspiciously? Are they doing a good deed anonymously?"
Lin knew: "Even if you do good deeds anonymously, there's no need to go to such great lengths to cover it up. Don't jump to conclusions before the matter has been thoroughly investigated."
Jiang Xian: "Have I drawn a conclusion?"
Lin Zhi: "No?"
Jiang Xian: "Really?"
Lin Zhi: "No?"
Jiang Xian raised his lips and scoffed, "Are you targeting me?"
Lin Zhi: "Really?"
Jiang Xian: "No?"
Seeing that they were about to continue, Jiang Chuting chuckled and finally couldn't help but interrupt them, saying gently, "Can you two please stop being so boring?"
Jiang Xian looked at Jiang Chuting, his eyes crinkling with a smile: "You must be going to Misty Moon Valley to investigate, right? I'm sorry, my mother and I have set a return date, so I can't accompany you. After the banquet today, I'll be leaving tomorrow. Please take care of everything."
Jiang Chuting said, "Okay, I'll come find you for a drink after this is all sorted out."
Lin Zhi was secretly delighted to hear that Jiang Xian was leaving soon.
But the next moment, Jiang Xian said again, "Oh, I'm leaving tomorrow, let's have one more drink together today. See you on the rooftop after the banquet."
After speaking, Jiang Chuting and Jiang Xian exchanged a glance, then looked at Lin Zhi at the same time.
"..." Lin Zhi's lips twitched violently. Why is this person so annoying!
Jiang Chuting didn't intentionally leave Lin Zhi out, because Jiang Xian probably had something to say to him privately before leaving, so Lin Zhi had to make do for now.
After the banquet, Lin Zhi, left alone, was indeed feeling aggrieved. He listlessly leaned against the bridge in the garden, feeding the fish. Qiao Xun, busy with his work, happened to pass by and noticed him. He came over to ask a few words of concern, "Brother Lin, why are you all alone? Where are Brother Jiang and Brother Chu?"
Lin Zhi sprinkled feed into the pond, his whole body radiating displeasure: "Those two went out for drinks."
"So that's why you look so listless?" Qiao Xun smiled gently, speaking in a persuasive tone: "For a man, having a close confidant is extremely rare, so let them be. Besides, Brother Jiang comes from a good family, so it's not a bad thing to befriend him."
"A good family background?" Come to think of it, he didn't even know what Jiang Xian did. He turned to Qiao Xun with a questioning look. Qiao Xun looked slightly surprised. "You don't know? Brother Jiang's father is an official in the court. His future is limitless. Being on good terms with him will bring many benefits."
Lin Zhi really didn't expect that Jiang Xian had such a strong江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) air about him, not at all like a son of an official.
Just then, a subordinate came to see him. Qiao Xun turned around, glanced at him, patted Lin Zhi on the shoulder, and said with a hint of emotion, "But being clingy isn't necessarily a bad thing. I was like that when I was young too. I couldn't be separated from him for a moment, and I wished we could be together forever. I can understand." After saying that, he smiled and said, "I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now."
Lin Zhi watched his departing figure with his dark eyes, and couldn't help but smile. Was the "she" that Master Qiao was referring to the Master's wife? Using their example to compare him and Chu Ran, it seems this Master Qiao has keen insight; he's only been in the manor for less than a day, yet he's already figured out that he and Chu Ran are a couple.
Lin Zhi continued feeding the fish. There were more guests staying at the manor tonight than before, and the inner and outer courtyards were noisy. Without that person by her side, Lin Zhi didn't find the noise lively, but rather annoying. She was about to go back to her room when, after taking only a few steps, the girl named Jin Xia rushed out and blocked her way.
Lin Zhi immediately replied coldly, "What are you doing here again?"
This summer, I secretly came despite my senior uncle's warning not to speak carelessly. I didn't expect him to be so sarcastic as soon as he opened his mouth. I got angry and turned to leave.
But after taking two steps, she turned back and looked at Lin Zhidao: "I only came to remind you because I like you, so don't be ungrateful."
Lin Zhifan was extremely annoyed: "Who needs you to like it?"
Knowing he was impatient, she cut straight to the point this summer, saying, "I'm just asking you, do you know the true identity of the person next to you?"
"So what if I know? So what if I don't? It's none of your business."
This summer, she added, "If you don't know, then I'll tell you. He's a shameless person with a terrible reputation, known throughout the entire martial arts world. I'm telling you this because I don't want you to be deceived. If you don't believe me, go ask him yourself."
Hearing her talk about that wicked sweetheart, Lin Zhi was furious. Moreover, her shamelessness and notoriety throughout the martial arts world reminded him of another extremely detestable person.
Lin Zhi was even more furious when she described Chu Ran as being like that person, as if her sore spot had been touched.
"A young lady like you, repeatedly coming to flirt with men, and calling it being bold and unrestrained—I think you're the shameless one! Get lost and never show your face in front of me again!"
"Your kindness is wasted." Jin Xia was so angry at his fierce expression that she almost cried: "Then you can continue to be friends with him. Don't blame me if you get ripped off by him. Humph! You're such a big idiot!" She turned and ran away.
How could someone as wonderful as Chu Ran be the way she described? Lin Zhi didn't believe a word of it. At most, it might be that his past identity was somewhat special. Chu Ran must have had his reasons for not saying so, and he wouldn't ask. He loved this person, and it had nothing to do with his past—it was that simple.
Lin Zhi walked a distance with a somber expression, then suddenly stopped, his brows furrowed, and raised his hand to press his temple.
Just now, a thought flashed through his mind, so fast that he couldn't even catch it before it slipped away.
After pondering for a long time, he still didn't know what he was thinking. Frustrated, he kicked a pebble under his feet, attributing his unusual irritability to the fact that Chu Ran wasn't around.
Looking around, Lin Zhi felt a pang of sadness, wondering which rooftop that person had abandoned him to go off to drink and have some fun.
Jiang Chuting was currently on the roof of the pavilion at Changliu Manor. From this vantage point, the view was expansive, allowing him to see almost the entire manor.
After watching the night view and enjoying the fireworks with Jiang Xian, they started chatting.
Jiang Xian drank his wine and spoke to him in a low, fragmented manner. The most important point was: "Once the situation on the Ninth Prince's side has completely stabilized, I will write to you in advance so that you can prepare."
Jiang Chuting appreciated the gesture and expressed her gratitude.
Jiang Xian admired his composure immensely and sighed heavily, "I'm starting to worry about you, Chu Ting. Why do you always provoke people you shouldn't?"
Jiang Chuting gazed at the distant lights with his clear, dark eyes and murmured, "Life is unpredictable." When he was with Zi Que, he never imagined that Zi Que already had a fiancée. On Pei Jing's first day in the Nine Heavens, he never thought that the child would fall in love with him. When he met and fell in love with Zi Que, he never imagined that one day he would be with his son. Everything was only known after they happened.
After finishing their small jars of wine, Jiang Xian exhaled a breath of alcohol and said to Jiang Chuting with utmost seriousness, "Chuting, although what I'm saying might sound a bit like I'm talking without any real experience, if your identity is accidentally exposed one day, and that brat Lin Zhi uses it as an excuse to deny your innocence back then and deliberately treats you coldly and insults you, I advise you not to waste your energy on him. He's the one who's been relentlessly pursuing you, so you absolutely can't give him face. Quickly and decisively dump him and let him struggle with himself. I'll definitely drink with you for three days and three nights, and then you can start over when you're sober. You're just a man, don't make yourself look too pathetic. Really, your personality is suited to being a carefree and open-minded swordsman, laughing at the mundane affairs of this mortal world, and not letting emotions imprison you and make you unlike yourself."
Jiang Chuting slowly fluttered her long eyelashes and nodded in agreement, "I know."
Jiang Xian stared at him: "You really know?"
Jiang Chuting said softly, "Yes, really."
Jiang Xian: "..." But why is he so worried?
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