Chapter 42
Xiao Wuhen remained silent for a long time, his thousand words condensing into a sigh: "It's my fault. I didn't teach you well. You were too honest when you shouldn't have been. Nothing in this world can wait until everything is perfect."
Qiu Chiyan lowered his eyes, his expression calm: "Master, it's good that she's unrestrained and free."
“…”
"But you didn't even ask me if I was willing to go together; you just unilaterally made your own decisions here."
Shen Yu didn't even take a tray; she just carried the teapot out.
"...Did you hear that?"
“If I want to hear you, I can hear you even if you hide on a street corner and talk.”
Xiao Wuhen sighed and rubbed his forehead. His quail-like disciple was completely still, not even as dashing as the young lady.
So he made a quick decision: "I'll go add some more tea leaves."
He took the teapot from Shen Yu and dashed into the kitchen like the wind. He walked so fast that he almost bumped into Grandma, Yao Liuliu, and Xu Dahe behind the curtain.
"...Oh, what's going on here?" He hadn't been this disheveled in a long time, and he hadn't even noticed that there were people here.
"Shh!" Yao Liuliu knew who he was, but the situation was urgent, so she quickly silenced him.
In the lobby, a lingering aroma of tea drifted through the air.
Qiu Chiyan didn't know what he wanted to do, how to face the upcoming conversation, or even if there was any room for further dialogue.
His courage was gradually worn away until he was almost ready to give up.
Perhaps... this is for the best.
Shen Yu leaned against the pillar, her eyes clear yet tinged with a hint of provocation: "Is Officer Qiu so keen on being a kind and understanding person?"
Qiu Chiyan looked up, his throat bobbing: "...The world is vast..."
"Then do you want to hear what I think?" Shen Yu interrupted him, taking two steps forward with an imposing certainty.
Qiu Chiyan stared at her blankly, instinctively wanting to back away, but found that his feet seemed to be rooted to the ground.
"I do feel comfortable being with you, but it's not like being with a regular friend. As for that day, I just acted on impulse, and I don't really know why. I can't control what you think of me, but if you really want to say that I shouldn't have done that, then tell me first, if there was even a moment when you hesitated?"
Qiu Chiyan's breathing became erratic, as if he had been torn apart and laid bare in the sunlight, with nowhere to hide.
Shen Yu continued, her voice even more sincere: "I understand you have many concerns. But why do you insist on distinguishing between what is right and what is wrong, as if considering every step comprehensively will guarantee a good outcome? I don't know what the future holds, but if I don't clarify things now, it feels like I'll miss out on something very important."
The two were so close they could almost hear each other breathing.
Shen Yu's voice lowered, but her eyes held a hint of arrogance: "Qiu Chiyan, I don't like using understanding as an excuse. You can leave whenever you want, or stay whenever you want. Your self-control has not moved anyone but yourself."
The air seemed to freeze. She spoke, looking at him with a half-smile, her tone gentle yet her words sharp.
Qiu Chiyan didn't answer, but simply raised his hand, his fingertips almost brushing against the hair at her temple.
He seemed to have no way out.
He suddenly leaned down, his voice extremely low, his breath almost brushing past her ear: "If you come any closer, I'm afraid I won't be able to reason with you properly."
"Really? Then what do you want?"
Before Shen Yu could finish speaking, her earlobe was gently bitten.
"Hey, what are you doing? It's a bright and sunny day."
A sudden sound burst in through the doorway.
As soon as Gong Er entered the room, he saw Qiu Chiyan engrossed in something. He didn't dare to look at what it was, but instead covered his eyes with one hand as he walked further in.
Qiu Chiyan straightened up, his gaze towards Shen Yu was unfamiliar yet intense, but when he turned to Gong Er, his emotions instantly vanished.
"Where did you go? What's this big package?" Shen Yu didn't rush to hide it, but calmly tidied her sideburns.
It's inexplicably hot.
"I went to the casting gate to collect money." Gong Er generously spread the package on the table, revealing the thick stack of silver notes and coins inside.
"You..." Shen Yu had never seen so much money before and was momentarily stunned. "You robbed your junior brother?"
"What are you talking about! I'm just getting back what I've worked so hard for!" Gong Er said, his neck stiff and his face full of righteousness. "Didn't you say we were temporarily disbanding? Then I need to save up some travel expenses for myself."
Shen Yu poked a shiny silver ingot and said, "Now that the money is back, we're even."
Gong Er didn't care at all: "It should have been cleared out a long time ago. I just regret that I was too high-minded when I left and didn't take a single penny."
"I thought you didn't want to go anywhere else."
"It's not a matter of whether I want to or not," Gong Er sighed. "After staying in one place for too long, it's good to go somewhere else for a stroll. But let me make this clear: I want to wander around by myself. Don't follow me."
Do you think I want to go out with you?
Unable to hear Qiu Chiyan and Shen Yu talking, Yao Liuliu stopped hiding and walked straight out. Upon seeing the table full of silver, she pouted and said, "You old man who doesn't understand the joys of life, I don't want to travel with you."
"Do you have any money? Did you spend all your wages on clothes and jewelry?"
Shen Yu stepped forward: "We'll have it once we sell the shop, and then we'll split it equally!"
“That’s great!” Yao Liuliu agreed wholeheartedly.
A group of people poured out of the kitchen, leaving Gong Er stunned.
The others are one thing, but why is the chief constable of the Six Doors here?
However, he was a worldly man, and he decided to remain silent about what had just happened.
What's more, the two parties involved are pretending nothing happened.
Xu Dahe sized up the group and quietly spoke up, "Um..."
All eyes were on him, and he swallowed hard. "If the inn closes down, could I... could I do something else..."
His voice grew weaker and weaker, as he felt it was too heartless to say this at the moment of "breaking up".
Of course.
Shen Yu's response was completely without reproach, and was as natural as it should be.
"You are free to come and go at our inn. If you have something else you'd like to do, then go ahead and do it."
“Exactly. But where do you want to go? Give me some inspiration, I haven’t decided yet,” Yao Liuliu asked, putting her arm around him.
“…I…I want to report to the Six Doors. I also want to investigate cases like Brother Qiu.”
Gong Er: "Aren't there already people here? Why did you go so far?"
As he spoke, he casually stepped aside, making way for Xiao Wuhen.
Xu Dahe's face flushed slightly, and he said in a low voice, "I want to get in based on my own abilities..."
He himself found it a little ridiculous when he thought about it. But looking at the people in the inn, all of them were so determined and calm when they talked about their destinations, and they were not ashamed of leaving the group. His wish, which he dared not even think about, finally surfaced.
He had previously said he wanted to learn martial arts from Shen Yu, but when he gave his reasons for wanting to learn martial arts, he was still uneasy inside.
I learned martial arts for the sake of justice, but back then, it was only for my own sense of justice. Or perhaps, becoming powerful is what constitutes justice.
But initially, he only wanted to seek justice for his sister.
“Then you’ll have to study hard and familiarize yourself with the law,” Xiao Wuhen chimed in, smiling gently.
He didn't know how skilled this young man was, but his spirit was commendable.
Xu Dahe nodded, his eyes brightening slightly.
"Here's your share of the money, Gong Er. Go buy some books." Yao Liuli patted his shoulder.
Gong Er rolled his eyes at her, but didn't say anything to stop her.
"And mine too..." Grandma didn't finish her sentence before Xu Dahe declined.
Having received confirmation, I finally felt relieved.
It seems that even if he didn't intend to go to the Six Doors, others would support what he thought.
The people in the inn chattered about the places they wanted to go, but Xiao Wuhen, as an outsider, didn't participate. He just listened and watched Qiu Chiyan's reaction.
While others were chatting enthusiastically, he subtly pulled someone away from the center of the conversation and whispered, "You're so hesitant, not at all like the girl. She has to be the one to make it clear first."
“Master, eavesdropping is not the behavior of a true man.”
"Don't give me that! Haven't you been eavesdropping enough?" Xiao Wuhen glanced at him. "Taking you disciples is just a headache. You're all good at solving cases but not at starting a family. The saying 'A teacher for a day is a father for life' has really trapped this old man."
"...This brings us to the topic of marriage...Master, please don't speak so carelessly." Qiu Chiyan's gaze flickered for a moment.
"How dare you speak to your master like that!"
Xiao Wuhen immediately straightened his face, snorted coldly, and put on a serious expression. However, this cold face didn't seem very intimidating amidst the lively laughter in the room.
He coughed lightly and said seriously, "Let's get back to business. We just arrested a group of people today. After the interrogation, we have to set off. You should rest well these next few days. The journey ahead will be long, and we'll be stopping in quite a few places along the way."
"…yes."
"You can handle your other matters yourself, I'm too lazy to interfere. We in the Six Doors have always been closest to the martial arts world, we're not so rigid."
Qiu Chiyan nodded.
Reason returned, and my heart was completely calm.
That evening, everyone had a meal together, something we hadn't done in a long time.
The sale of the inn is basically settled; all that's left is to find a suitable buyer and get a reasonable price.
I don't know how many more times we can sit like this, so let's treat this as our last meal together.
But there wasn't much sorrow on the table. Life is like a journey through the world, with gatherings and partings inevitable.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, Gong Er glanced at the plaque in the hall and suddenly chuckled, a rather abrupt sound.
"If you're going to fight, please leave. Don't smash my pots and pans... This brand seems to never be of any use."
Shen Yu: "Why didn't it work?"
"You've been in quite a few fights, and you've even made a name for yourself in them. You've smashed so many things in the shop that you've had to replace them several times."
"Sigh, you can't control everything, not even the heavens and the earth." Shen Yu leaned half-lying on the table, her hand resting on her wine cup, smiling.
"If you go outside, don't always stand in front of people and block their way. You're skilled in kung fu, but you haven't actually fought many strangers."
They spent all day together and didn't realize it until now. Looking back, Gong Er himself finds it amazing.
When Shen Jingyuan first took him in, he never expected that he would live with Shen Yu for four or five years.
Even now, it has a bit of a homey feel to it.
He was reluctant to let her go, but since Shen Yu wanted to go out for a walk, he would let her go.
"Why do you say the same things as my father? Stop learning from him." Shen Yu finished the last bit of wine, shook her head with a smile.
Gong Er snorted: "For your own good."
"It looks even more like it now."
Qiu Chiyan was still injured, so no wine was poured for him.
He held the hot soup, his eyes lowered as he gazed at the oil floating on the surface. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said:
"The journey through the martial world is long. If Manager Shen is willing, shall we travel together for a while?"
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