A secret room hidden in the dark, a distinguished guest arrives
Liu Yasi's meaningful words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples of unrest in Qiongying's heart.
"Noble person", "talk", "hidden dangers in the army"... These words combined together point to a chilling possibility: someone in the core of the court, or in the group of powerful officials, not only does not trust Liangshan, but may even be planning something in secret, and even the "hidden dangers" in the front-line army are within their scope of attention.
This is no longer a simple suspicion, but a more targeted snooping, or even possibly... a layout.
The identity of Taoist Qingshizi seemed to have become a double-edged sword. It brought the opportunity to access higher-level information, but also the danger of being swallowed by the invisible vortex at any time.
Back in her humble hiding place, Qiongying recounted everything she had seen and heard today to her mute servant, Shi Xiu. Shi Xiu's face grew grave as he listened. He gestured, asking if she should temporarily withdraw from the spotlight.
Qiongying pondered for a moment, then shook her head. How long could she hide? Having already drawn their attention, abruptly disappearing would only arouse suspicion. Her only option now was to remain calm and maneuver carefully. She needed to know who that "noble person" was and what their purpose was.
She asked Shi Xiu to go out less frequently in the near future and pay close attention to the movements around the humble room. At the same time, she used the channels of the "Tongxin Society", especially the peddler Sun Er and the inn waiter Zhou Wu, to inquire about the officials who had close ties with Liu Yasi and whether there were any special people from Tokyo staying there recently.
A few days passed, and everything was calm. Liu Yasi did not appear again, as if their encounter in the teahouse that day was just a coincidence.
But Qiongying didn't dare let her guard down. She still occasionally appeared in public as "Qingshizi," but her words and actions were more cautious. Most of the time, she stayed behind closed doors, "studying the Taoist Canon," but in reality, she was further sorting out intelligence and thinking of countermeasures.
From scattered reports from the Tongxinhui, she gathered that the imperial court's food and fodder supplies to the Liangshan army appeared to be experiencing some "technical" delays, with quantities also being cut. Requests for grain from the front were reportedly pouring into Tokyo. As for Zhang Qing, her injuries were reportedly minor, and he remained in the army. However, from her distant home in Yuncheng, she was unable to obtain detailed information on the battle.
This information asymmetry left her feeling powerless, like she was playing a blind game of chess, relying only on limited clues to guess her opponent's strategy and the safety of her pieces.
A few days later, it was an evening with drizzling rain.
Shi Xiu, the mute servant, returned from his food shopping trip with a strange look on his face. He closed the door and gestured anxiously to Qiongying: "Someone's asking about the Taoist priest Qingshizi's whereabouts. He's not one of Liu Yasi's men, but he looks like a jianghu figure with considerable skill."
Qiongying's heart trembled. Besides the officials, were there also underworld forces targeting her? Was it a coincidence, or was it related to that "noble person"?
She immediately had Shi Xiu check the several simple warning systems installed in the house to confirm that no one had broken in. Then, she blew out the lights and hid in the shadows behind the window with Shi Xiu, listening intently to the sounds outside.
The patter of rain pounded against the eaves and window frames, masking many subtler sounds. But after recuperating and recovering from her previous illness, Qiongying's hearing was far more acute than that of an average person. Across the alley, she heard what seemed to be the faintest sound of footsteps, distinct from the sound of falling raindrops, moving slowly, as if exploring something.
Here it comes.
She and Shi Xiu exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of caution in the other's eyes. Shi Xiu silently hid a short blade in his sleeve, while Qiongying tucked away several flying stones.
Time slipped away in the oppressive silence. The footsteps outside came and went, as if hesitating, or waiting.
Finally, when the rain stopped for a moment, there was a clear, neither light nor heavy knock on the flimsy wooden door of the shabby room.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The rhythm was steady, with a peculiar cadence. It didn't sound like the government arresting someone, nor did it sound like an ordinary visitor.
Qiongying signaled Shi Xiu to calm down, adjusted her breathing, and asked in that calm, slightly hoarse voice that belonged to "Qingshizi": "Who is outside? It's late at night and the rain is heavy. I have already gone to bed."
There was silence outside the door for a moment, and then a low and magnetic voice sounded, penetrating the rain curtain and clearly entering the room:
"I've come to visit Taoist Qingshizi, recommended by an old friend. I've heard you're good at solving puzzles. I have a puzzle in mind that's been bothering me for a long time, and I hope you'll be willing to offer some pointers."
This voice... wasn't Liu Yashi, and it sounded completely unfamiliar. But the references to "recommendation from an old friend" and "mystery" in the words made Qiongying's heart leap. Was it sent by the "noble person" behind Liu Yashi? Or was there another force behind this?
Her mind raced, realizing that avoiding him was no longer an option. If he had been able to find this place, he must have had some sort of ulterior motive.
She winked at Shi Xiu, asking him to retreat behind the inner room door and be on guard. She straightened her Taoist robe, walked forward, and slowly opened the bolt.
Outside, the rain fell like a curtain. A tall figure draped in a black cloak stood at the bottom of the steps, its hood obscuring most of its features, revealing only the cold lines of its jaw. Raindrops dripped from the brim of his hat, forming small puddles at his feet. Behind him, the rain alley was deserted, and he had no followers, yet the invisible sense of oppression was far more intense than that of Liu Yashi that day.
The man raised his head, and his eyes under the hood were like a hawk in the dark night, sweeping across Qiongying's face sharply, and lingered for a moment on her deliberately dyed gray hair.
"Master, I'm sorry to bother you." He spoke, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.
Qiongying stepped aside to make way for him. "Please come in, sir. This humble room is small, so please don't despise it."
The man stepped in, bringing with him a chilly, damp air and a gust of steam. He stood tall, his steps steady, and even beneath his loose cloak, one could sense the power beneath. After entering the room, his eyes quickly and discreetly scanned the simple furnishings, finally landing on the open copy of the Nanhua Jing on the table, which Qiongying had used as a disguise.
Qiongying closed the door and lit the oil lamp. The dim light illuminated half of the cloaked man's face. He looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six years old. His face was not handsome, but he had the majesty of a long-time leader and the fortitude of experience. His eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts.
"Please take a seat, sir." Qiongying sat down at the table and gestured for him to come. "I wonder what the 'mystery' you're talking about is?"
The cloaked man did not sit down as he was told. Instead, he stood beside the table, looking down at Qiongying. His voice was lowered, but every word was clear:
"The situation... concerns a group of dragons that have left the water. A fierce tiger blocks their path ahead, and a bottomless abyss lies behind. Someone wants to drive the dragons to fight the tigers, and regardless of victory or defeat, they must cut off their path back. Master, should these dragons fight the tigers with all their might to prove their loyalty? Or... should they seek a new place to rest and wait for the right time?"
Qiongying's knuckles turned slightly white as she held the whisk.
A dragon out of water! A fierce tiger (Wang Qing) in front, a bottomless abyss behind (the birds in the court are gone, the bows are hidden)! Drive the dragon and fight the tiger, cut off its way back!
This metaphor was so blunt and so sinister! It was almost a stark depiction of the situation she and Zhang Qing were worried about!
Who is this person? He is no ordinary lobbyist or spy! The fact that he can say this means that he has an extremely clear understanding of the situation in Liangshanpo, even a "treasonous" understanding!
Qiong Ying suppressed the turmoil in her heart, met the other man's sharp gaze, and said slowly, "Master, this situation is indeed dangerous. A dragon has left the water and has already lost its advantage. If you don't know how to advance or retreat and continue to act recklessly, you may not be able to defeat the tiger, but instead fall into the abyss, from which there is no recovery."
She paused, observing the other person's expression, then continued with her Taoist wit: "Of course, there's always a way out. A dragon's power lies in raising clouds and rain, not wrestling with a tiger. Since my old home is no longer accessible, why not... seek another river or sea? The world is vast, surely there's room for me? When the wind and clouds meet, perhaps I can soar to the heavens. Why remain trapped in this abyss?"
The cloaked man's eyes suddenly lit up, like a flash of lightning in the dark night. He stared at Qiongying, as if he wanted to see through her from the inside out.
"Find another river or sea... soar straight to the sky..." He repeated these words in a low voice, a faint, complex arc curling up at the corner of his mouth, as if expressing admiration, but also mockery. "Master, you have great courage! But, this word 'find another', how easy is it? We still have the ties of friendship and affection in our old waters, so where can we find new rivers and seas? Besides, with a fierce tiger at my side, an abyss behind me, and a dragon... how can I safely 'find another'?"
His questions were more pointed than the last, going straight to the core of the problem.
Qiongying knew she couldn't show any weakness or empty talk at this moment. She had to demonstrate sufficient "value" to gain the initiative in the conversation, and even... win over this mysterious figure.
She took a deep breath, her eyes as calm as water, her voice not loud, but with a firm strength:
"Loyalty is certainly important, but the matter of life and death is even more important. If, for false loyalty, one sacrifices the lives of all the dragons, this is not true loyalty, but foolish loyalty. As for the new rivers and seas... haven't you heard, 'A single spark can start a prairie fire; a trickle of water can become a river or sea'? Even the fiercest tiger can nap; even the most dangerous abyss may harbor hidden dragons. The key lies in... whether the leader of the dragons has the determination to burn his boats and cross the river, and... whether he can foresee the opportunities ahead and lay those 'sparks' and 'tricks of water' in advance!"
"A spark... a foresight..." the cloaked man muttered to himself, his eyes completely changing as he looked at Qiongying. No longer was they scrutinizing and testing, but now they held a sense of shock and burning excitement, as if he had discovered a treasure.
The house fell into a dead silence, with only the crackling of the burning oil lamp and the sound of continuous rain outside the window.
After a long moment, the cloaked man suddenly raised his hand and slowly removed his hood, revealing his full face. It was a face that had been weathered, yet still retained a heroic air. Between his brows was an air of authority that was undeniably powerful without even anger.
He bowed slightly towards Qiongying, his tone more serious than ever before:
"My surname is Lu, and my given name is Junyi. After hearing what the Taoist said today, it was like seeing the light through the clouds. I have no choice but to come and visit you. I hope the Taoist will be generous with your guidance!"
Lu Junyi!
The second in command of Liangshanpo, "Jade Unicorn" Lu Junyi!
Qiongying only felt a buzzing sound in her head. Although she had some guesses, when this name was really spoken from the other party's mouth, the shock it brought was still beyond words!
He actually came in person! On this rainy night in Yuncheng County, he secretly visited her, the unidentified "Qingshizi"!
What does this mean? It means that among the core leadership of Liangshan, Zhang Qing is not the only one who has doubts about the prospect of recruiting the amnesty! It may even include... this respected Lu Yuanwai!
The wheel of history seemed to really begin to turn under the flapping of her little butterfly's wings!
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