Broken Linglong (24)
There's no mistake, this voice, deep and calm, even more resonant than Qi Shuojun's, is clearly Yun Yanqiu's!
Ye Yingying stared intently at the man in front of her. Although he had Qi Shuojun's face, his expression was noticeably colder and harder than Qi Shuojun's gentle and bright demeanor.
"It's you?!" Ye Yingying exclaimed in surprise. "Where's Qi Shuojun? Did he get lost too?"
"No, not at all." Qi Shuojun's voice suddenly rang out. Ye Yingying turned her head and saw that he was sitting in the driver's seat, waving to her.
What's going on? Ye Yingying's mind was a mess. She looked left and right and saw that both faces in the car were Qi Shuojun's. She couldn't accept this bizarre scene for a moment: "Then who was the one who went through the three gates with me just now?"
"It's me." Yun Yanqiu pulled out a damp handkerchief from somewhere, wiped her face, and revealed her true appearance.
He looked up at Ye Yingying again, his gaze open and honest. The two exchanged a glance, and Yun Yanqiu handed Ye Yingying another handkerchief, saying, "You wipe yourself too."
"Huh?" Ye Yingying took the handkerchief blankly, looked down at the pattern on the fabric, and stared blankly.
Upon seeing this, Yun Yanqiu explained, "It has the medicinal juice prepared by Wu Yue on it, which can wipe off the mud powder she applied to your face."
Ye Yingying was still in a daze, not because she doubted the truth of Yun Yanqiu's words, but because everything had happened so suddenly, catching her completely off guard. She never dreamed that she and Yun Yanqiu would almost "get married"!
So she'd been mistaking him for someone else all along? All those seemingly considerate actions of Qi Shuojun that she thought were actually done by Yun Yanqiu! This is just too much…
The more Ye Yingying thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. Her face involuntarily became hot, and she quickly grabbed a cool handkerchief to cover her face and wiped it haphazardly a few times, trying to hide her embarrassment.
After finally calming herself down, Ye Yingying took a deep breath, slowly put down her handkerchief, and mustered up her courage to look at Yun Yanqiu again: "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"It was a last-minute decision, and I didn't have time to inform you," Yun Yanqiu said. "The plan has changed, but we've received permission, so we'll head straight up the mountain in a bit."
"Permission?" Ye Yingying asked in confusion, turning to Qi Shuojun, "Young Master Qi, have you finally won over your father?"
"It wasn't me who arranged it," Qi Shuojun replied while urging the horse on. "It was Senior Yun who arranged it. I don't even know what they discussed, but my father agreed."
After hearing this, Ye Yingying looked at Yun Yanqiu with a questioning gaze, and the latter calmly said, "It's a secret."
Secret? Ye Yingying felt that Yun Yanqiu was becoming more and more mysterious. First the Lingyun Alliance, then the Qi family. How could a reclusive person who hadn't left the Xuanming Realm for at least a hundred years have so many connections?
But Yun Yanqiu was unwilling to talk about it, and Ye Yingying didn't want to force him. So she changed the subject and asked about the plans for later: "What's the plan now? Have you made any new discoveries in the ancestral land these past few days?"
“Someone is trying to break the seal on the ancestral altar,” Qi Shuojun said calmly. “But only my father knows how to break the seal. He told me last night, and I have to go to the ancestral altar today for my wedding.”
“Qin Zhiqing knows this too, so she will most likely appear near the ancestral altar today,” Yun Yanqiu explained, following Qi Shuojun’s words.
Upon hearing the plan, Ye Yingying quickly shared her findings while impersonating Qin Zhiqing: "I got a clue from Madam Qin these past few days. Qin Zhiqing once stayed in Lizhou for a year."
"Leaving the continent?" Yun Yanqiu's gaze turned serious upon hearing this. "Are you going to the Yanqing Sect?"
"I don't know, but I guess she might have been threatened because of what happened there." Ye Yingying shook her head, then suddenly looked at Qi Shuojun and asked, "Young Master Qi, do you have any more clues?"
"Hmm? Lizhou?" Qi Shuojun seemed to be lost in thought about something. He pretended to ponder and said, "It should be Yanqing Sect. She mentioned before that she was going there to complete the Beast Tokens and collect a few top-grade magic artifacts."
"Did she go with that maid named Chi He?" Ye Yingying pressed.
Qi Shuojun hesitated for a moment before saying, "I don't know either. We rarely kept in touch back then."
As he spoke, he cracked his whip hard, urging his horse to quicken its pace.
Ye Yingying was somewhat disappointed that the clues to support her point of view were still not enough, but time was of the essence. After hesitating for a long time, she finally said her speculation: "I suspect that Qin Zhiqing killed the maid named Chi He when she left the continent, and someone found out about this and used it to blackmail her into doing things for them."
"Miss Ye, you should at least provide evidence before you speak," Qi Shuojun said, her gaze darkening and her voice lowering.
"This is just a guess. Qin Zhiqing was willing to risk her life to go to the Qi family's ancestral land to find the true fire. There must be a motive behind this." Ye Yingying shrugged. "She also told me that she was threatened and that she would be in danger if she didn't work for that person. The danger that people would risk their lives to avoid is nothing more than losing their reputation and suffering losses."
Upon hearing this, the other two remained silent, leaving Ye Yingying somewhat bewildered. She awkwardly asked, "Isn't that right?"
Qi Shuojun sighed softly and said, "It seems that Miss Ye has never risked her life for anyone else."
"That makes sense. Senior Yun's strength is unparalleled, and there are few people in the world who can harm him. How could you possibly have the chance to risk your life for him?"
Qi Shuojun's words were somewhat sarcastic, which annoyed Ye Yingying: "I was just making deductions based on the clues I had. Besides, have you ever risked your life for someone?"
"Oh, no, not at all." Qi Shuojun was quite frank.
"Then what right do you have to talk to me like that!"
"Who says you can't say something just because you don't have it? You've seen pigs run even if you haven't eaten pork."
"What exactly do you want to say?" Ye Yingying asked, her tone irritated, her gaze towards Qi Shuojun unpleasant.
"I just feel that she might have other reasons."
"What reason?"
I can't tell you yet.
Damn it! Ye Yingying glared at him with disdain. Trying to act mysterious like Yun Yanqiu? Yun Yanqiu could, but he couldn't!
"Young Master Qi, what time is it and you're still playing these mysterious tricks! Can't you even be open and honest about cooperation?!" Ye Yingying retorted angrily.
Qi Shuojun calmly replied, "Didn't you tell me she was being threatened?"
"What? I..."
Ye Yingying suddenly paused, recalling her earlier conversation with Qi Shuojun, and realized that she hadn't actually told him about this. Oh no, she was so focused on getting the best of both worlds that she'd messed up what she should say and what she should keep secret.
Thinking of this, Ye Yingying realized she was in the wrong, so she could only snort and retort, "Didn't I already say that..."
"Hehe, we're both equally bad, so let's not talk about each other." Qi Shuojun chuckled, then added, "But promise me one thing: if you run into Qin Zhiqing when we get to the ancestral land, let me have a private chat with her."
"Talk to her alone?" Ye Yingying asked, puzzled. But when she thought that Qin Zhiqing might be with the Ghost Calculator's people, she said with concern, "She might have helpers. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."
"Then I'll trouble you and Senior Yun to create an opportunity for me," Qi Shuojun said seriously. "I must confirm this with her personally."
What's all this fuss about? Ye Yingying was very curious and wanted to subtly ask again. But Qi Shuojun quickly offered a new deal that could shut her up: "After it's done, I'll give you another pill, at least enough to ensure you don't die before you reach the Golden Core stage."
Compared to gossip, her own cultivation was more important, so Ye Yingying readily agreed. Then she brought up the matter of helping someone: "Senior Yun, the person who helped Qin Zhiqing cover up her tracks is very likely the woman we met at the Zhixian Medical Clinic."
Upon hearing this, Yun Yanqiu, who had remained silent, frowned slightly: "You think Qin Zhiqing and the Ghost Calculator are related?"
Ye Yingying nodded: "Yes, she has been to Lizhou. The Ghost Calculator's lair is in Lizhou."
"Wait a minute, who are you talking about? The Ghost Calculator?" Qi Shuojun asked in surprise, "Why does that name sound so familiar?"
"You know him?" Ye Yingying was a little surprised. The Ghost Calculator rarely went out and didn't have any regular contacts. She rarely heard of him when she was out and about. How did Qi Shuojun know him?
"I don't recognize the name, but I feel like I've heard it somewhere before..." Qi Shuojun tried hard to recall, when suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he exclaimed, "My grandfather seems to have mentioned this name! He said something like... a prodigy in weapon crafting."
Ye Yingying was startled and immediately grabbed his shoulder, asking, "Did your grandfather mention this person again?"
"Hey hey hey!" Qi Shuojun cried out in pain. "He only lamented before he passed away that he couldn't bring this person into the Qi family. I don't know the specifics of the situation."
"Bringing the Qi family here?" Ye Yingying's gaze froze, her entire body standing still. This was something she had never known about the Ghost Calculator's past; though it was just a few words, it was enough to shock her. A thought immediately popped into her head: if she knew what the Ghost Calculator had gone through, would she be able to understand why he wanted to kill her?
"Miss Ye, my shoulder hurts!"
Qi Shuojun continued to wail, but Ye Yingying remained lost in her own thoughts, oblivious to her cries. It wasn't until a large, cold hand grabbed her wrist that the chilling sensation snapped Ye Yingying out of her daze. She came to her senses, saw Yun Yanqiu's face clearly, and watched his lips move as he said, "Calm down, there's no rush."
Ye Yingying's restless heart was calmed, and she slowly let go of her hand. Qi Shuojun finally had a chance to catch his breath and said in a flustered manner, "If I had known you would react so strongly, I would never have said anything even if you beat me to death."
“I’m sorry…” Ye Yingying replied blankly, her gaze still somewhat vacant.
Seeing this, Yun Yanqiu wrapped her hand in his and whispered, "Don't worry, as long as he's alive, he'll get his revenge sooner or later."
Yes, this can't be rushed. Ye Yingying met Yun Yanqiu's determined gaze and gradually calmed her thoughts: "Let's find Qin Zhiqing first."
"Of course." Qi Shuojun abruptly pulled on the reins, whistled, and stopped the carriage. "We've arrived."
The three stepped out of the car, and a magnificent archway came into view. Constructed of bluestone, it was both ancient and imposing. Four large characters were prominently engraved on the archway: “Qi Family Ancestral Land.” Further in, a wide, smooth stone path led straight from the foot of the mountain to its highest point, with bright red ribbons hanging on both sides, creating a festive atmosphere.
Unlike when Ye Yingying came with Qin Zhiqing earlier, this is clearly the main gate of the ancestral land.
Before she could examine it closely, Qi Shuojun took out two round silver sachets and handed them to Ye Yingying and Yun Yanqiu: "Wear these, and you won't be attacked if you encounter the Azure Gold Hou later."
Ye Yingying took the sachet and looked at it closely, feeling that it looked somewhat familiar: "I think there's one in Qin Zhiqing's room too?"
"Really?" Qi Shuojun said expressionlessly. "That was given to her by me. It seems she didn't have it with her."
What's in this sachet?
"The powder that has been stained with my blood."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
